Senegal Bus Crash Leaves 40 People Dead

A Senegal bus crash left 40 people dead and 85 others injured in the early hours of Sunday, January 8th, around 3:00 a.m. after two buses near Kaffrine, a town in central Senegal. 

Statement from President Sall about Bus Crash

Following the bus crash accident, President Macky Sall sent out his condolences and announced three days of national mourning. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic road accident,” he said on Twitter. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.” 

Public Prosecutor, Cheikh Dieng, said that the accident was caused when one of the buses experienced a burst tire. This caused that bus to move onto the lane of an oncoming bus, causing a head-on collision. According to Colonel Cheikh Fall of the Senegal National Fire Brigade, victims of the accident were rushed to a medical center and hospital in Kaffrine. After the national days of mourning over the bus crash, President Sall promised that a government council will be held to find ways to improve road safety. 

Senegal Crash Statistics

Accidents regularly occur in Senegal. According to experts, this is because of poor driver discipline, low-quality roads, and unroadworthy vehicles. While accidents do occur in Senegal, the bus crash is one of the worst in recent times. In 2017, 25 people were killed in another bus accident. One of the buses was reported carrying passengers heading to a religious event. In 2020, a bus collided with a refrigerated truck, leaving 16 people dead and 15 injured. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 27,000 people die from motor vehicle accidents in Senegal every year. According to Ousmane Ly, who is in charge of road safety at Senegal’s Road Transport Directorate, it is only in recent years that the proper statistics and data regarding motor vehicle accidents and their effects have been compiled.