Senegal has repatriated 117 nationals from Lebanon, but many others have chosen to stay despite the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
On Saturday, October 19, the Senegalese government organized a repatriation operation for its nationals stranded in Lebanon against the backdrop of regional instability. However, a significant number of Senegalese chose to stay behind.
According to a statement from the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, 117 Senegalese were repatriated on voluntary basis. The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, received them on his return from Bakel, where he had gone to assess the situation of those affected by the flooding of the Senegal River.
The chartered flight was originally intended for 303 people. However, not all Senegalese nationals who had registered were on the plane.
According to the ministry, only 87 of the 215 Senegalese, who had previously registered had confirmed their intention to return. Of those, 53 Senegalese nationals actually took the flight, 5 had already left the country and 29 withdrew their repatriation request at the last minute.
Of the 126 Senegalese of Lebanese origin who confirmed their intention to return, 64 were able to travel, 30 had already left the country, and 32 withdrew, preferring to stay with their Lebanese families, according to the Senegalese authorities.
These decisions came despite warnings from the Senegalese embassy in Cairo and the honorary consul in Lebanon about the risks of instability and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. For several weeks now, the country has been subjected to Israeli strikes, mainly targeting Hezbollah leaders, whose leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in the southern suburbs of Beirut in late September.
The Senegalese government has confirmed that the Honorary Consul of Senegal in Lebanon will continue to provide consular assistance to compatriots remaining in Lebanon.
In a communiqué dated October 20, the ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its citizens abroad, stating that Senegal will continue to assume its duty to assist and protect Senegalese in difficult situations wherever they may be, and will continue to monitor developments in Lebanon.
According to the ministry, this repatriation operation was made possible thanks to the close collaboration between the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and Budget and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Land and Air Transport.
AC/sf/lb/gik/APA