This Wednesday, at the Samba Diéry Diallo barracks headquarters, Colonel Issa Diack, head of the Intelligence and Operations Center of the National Gendarmerie of Senegal, unveiled the criminal statistics for the year 2024 for the areas under his jurisdiction. “A total of 5,887 offenses were recorded, including 844 felonies, affecting 5,043 victims,” he said. He specified that these figures include traditional offenses, such as cattle theft, which remains persistent, as well as an increase in violent and transnational crimes, including drug trafficking, requiring strategic adaptation.

The colonel also addressed seasonal variations: "Crimes peaked in October with 587 cases, before experiencing a notable decline in December, thanks to the reinforced security measures at the end of the year." Regarding the nature of the crimes, he detailed: "Major offences include serious violence and attacks on persons and property, with 431 cases of rape recorded."

In terms of arrests, Colonel Diack indicated: "1,144 individuals were brought before the courts, including 1,126 men and 18 women. Among them, 947 adults and 197 minors." He then focused on the fight against cattle theft, a scourge affecting a sector that represents approximately 4% of the GDP of the primary sector: "We recorded 431 cases, with 2,141 heads of cattle stolen, 18% of which were found. The Louga region, with 97 cases, remains the most affected."

Finally, the colonel concluded on the challenges to be met: "Despite a national drop in offences, crime persists, particularly in the regions of Louga, Matam and Saint-Louis, as well as in urban areas such as Dakar."