Cartografree Senegal sheds light on unseen victims amidst political turmoil

Journalist Abdallah Badji, haunted by memories of the June 2023 political protests, now stands as a crucial voice in the Cartografree Senegal collective.

This citizen’s initiative, driven by journalists, cartographers, and data scientists, is on a mission to document the lives lost during the recent surge of demonstrations against President Macky Sall’s delayed elections.

Badji’s connection to the cause deepened as he recalls the emotional scene of mourning for El Hadj Mamadou Cisse, a modern literature student who fell victim to the violence. As part of the collective, Badji retraced Cisse’s steps, sketching his portrait and capturing the essence of a life cut short.

Amidst the chaos, Cartografree Senegal has been unwavering in its pursuit of truth. Three lives have been recently lost during the current wave of protests, adding to the 29 documented deaths from the June 2023 riots. The collective’s work exposes a discrepancy in the official death toll and brings to light the identities of victims that were once concealed.

Moussa Ngom, the visionary behind this initiative, emphasizes the lack of transparency from the state, creating confusion in media and international opinion. The victims, predominantly young and underprivileged men, succumbed to gunshot wounds in Dakar, its suburbs, and the opposition stronghold at Ziguinchor.

In the quest for justice, families of the victims face a frustrating reality. Abdoulaye Ba, Cisse’s godfather, expresses his disappointment in the stalled investigations. Despite government promises, the Cartografree Senegal collective presses on, driven by a commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and a humanitarian principle that transcends political biases.

Working tirelessly in the face of threats and arrests targeting Senegalese journalists, Moussa Ngom emphasizes the importance of remembering the victims. In a dimly lit Dakar apartment, the group collaborates on a story about police violence, undeterred by the risks they face. For them, the work of Cartografree Senegal is a beacon of truth in the turbulent sea of political unrest.