Dakar — A patriotic walking event organized by Dakar Mayor Abass Fall on Sunday, May 17, 2026, took an unexpected turn when Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko cut short his participation due to chaotic crowd behavior.
Mayor condemns lack of discipline after Sonko’s early departure
Themed “Marching Toward 2029”, the walk was intended as a unifying civic gesture. However, witnesses reported that Sonko was unable to complete the route after a significant surge of attendees overwhelmed the planned route. The incident sparked sharp criticism from Abass Fall, who condemned the poor conduct of some participants.
“We have a real problem here. You cannot invite an authority figure and then have people behave without discipline. That’s unacceptable,” Fall said. “We came to walk, but why can’t people follow basic rules? Now he had to leave because of this chaos.”
In response to a journalist’s question about the strong support shown for Sonko by his supporters, Fall stressed the importance of responsibility. “Affection must be paired with intelligence. People need to act wisely. This is a major issue!” he declared.
Planned unity overshadowed by disorder
The event, meant to symbolize collective progress, was organized under the banner of national cohesion. Yet the premature departure of Sonko—a key political figure—highlights growing concerns over public order and event management in Dakar.
The Mayor’s remarks underscore the challenges of balancing enthusiasm with respect for official protocols during large public gatherings.
