The group stormed the diplomatic building wielding placards and banners and denounced the wave of mass arbitrary dismissals of public and semi-public sector employees in Senegal. 

A group under the aegis of Front de Résistance de la Diaspora Sénégalaise (FRDS) on Monday staged a protest at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, over the illegal dismissal and detention of union leaders, human rights activists and journalists by the West African country's authorities. 

The group stormed the diplomatic building wielding placards and banners and denounced the wave of mass arbitrary dismissals of public and semi-public sector employees in Senegal. 

The protesters said since the inauguration of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko in March 2024, over 30,000 workers have been dismissed without due process — primarily due to their alleged political affiliations with the former government of President Macky Sall.

The angry protesters said the President's action was a flagrant violation of Senegalese labor law and of several international conventions ratified by the Republic of Senegal, including those of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

They lamented over indiscriminate detention of vocal citizens which includes; labour leaders, journalists and human rights activists across the country for speaking truth to power.

The group called on the United Nations authority to prevail on President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to stop the impunity and dictatorship and release all the prisoners of conscience immediately.

Addressing the crowd, Ibrahim Ndiaye called Senegalese authorities to drop all charges against all the journalists and end their judicial harassment.

He said many activists and union leaders are currently languishing in detention for criticising President Bassirou’s high handedness and anti people policies.

He stated the group would continue to protest at the United Nations House until their demands are met and urged the world authorities to consider the gravity of the human rights violation situation in  Senegal and to take all necessary steps to investigate, intervene and  take a drastic action against the draconian regime of President Bassirou.

A formal petition was submitted to the United Nations with detailed information of the dismissed workers, arrested journalists, activists and union leaders.

It would be recalled that hundreds of union members marched in Dakar, denouncing the dismissal of over 400 permanent civil servants.

The action has been condemned and described as an attempt to silence dissenting voices and suppress freedom of speech.

No fewer than 187 countries are currently participating in the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss the new possible way to prevent workers from the biological hazard in the workplace environment.