Rabat – Violence and intimidation targeted members of the Moroccan community in Senegal during and following Morocco’s game with Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, leaving residents shaken and raising urgent questions about public safety.
Sources told Morocco World News (MWN) that tensions had begun building even before the match.
One Moroccan student in Senegal said, “The day before, tensions had already begun. We knew that trouble would happen.”
With over 5,000 Moroccan medical students and residents living across Senegal, safety concerns were widespread. A witness described how groups chased Moroccan fans with weapons in areas where Moroccans are known to live: “The students who watched outside in cafes were attacked with machetes.”
“If Moroccans had scored the penalty, it could have been worse. The violence is continuing even after the match, still today.”
Chaos, intimidation during and after the game
Many students recounted harrowing experiences. One student told MWN, “I study here, and yesterday felt like living through a horror movie. Thank God I watched the game at home. Those who watched outside told us they were chased with knives, and when the penalty was awarded, they even started breaking down the doors of Moroccan residents.”
“They say it’s just football, but yesterday a fellow student of ours was attacked by a group and had his belongings stolen,” another source told MWN.
“They came to our building and started shouting and threatening us. Now, we’ve decided to return to our country because we no longer feel safe. Hearing insults and curses when we go outside has become terrifying.”
A resident explained how looting and harassment were widespread: “We are confined at home, and yesterday they took advantage of the situation to steal motorcycles from my compatriots and knock on doors. We suffered all kinds of insults. They were never our brothers, and they made that clear.”
Women were also targeted, with one source adding, “They started hitting two girls just because they were wearing Moroccan jerseys outside.”
Even as authorities moved to intervene, witnesses felt it was insufficient. “The authorities acted, but it’s not enough,” another witness told MWN. “Even if the government issued statements, people don’t care.”
Calls for calm amid historical ties
The Moroccan Doctors’ Collective in Senegal (CMMS) and the Moroccan Students’ League in Senegal (LEMS) condemned all acts of violence and provocation.
In an official statement, they reminded that football should remain “a vector of fraternity, mutual respect, and bringing people together,” and noted that Morocco and Senegal share “historical, deep, and multigenerational” ties rooted in spiritual, cultural, human, and diplomatic connections.
They also called on Senegalese authorities to take “all necessary measures to ensure the safety of people and property, protect Moroccan and Senegalese citizens, and play a full role in mediation and calming tensions.”
Moroccan ambassador says ‘no cause for concern’
Morocco’s ambassador to Senegal, Hassan Naciri, confirmed that Moroccan-owned property in Dakar was targeted by acts of vandalism on Sunday night during the AFCON final.
Speaking to Achkayen, he noted that the incidents caused material damage, including broken windows, but reassured “there is no cause for concern.”
He added that the embassy closely monitored several of these events, maintaining a presence on the ground, and that everything ultimately unfolded without serious incident.
Community in fear and questioning security
However, reports of violent incidents question otherwise, as many Moroccans in Senegal are fearful and questioning the effectiveness of local security measures.
One resident also told MWN, “In areas where Moroccans are known to live, we are scared to go out. We don’t feel protected. The authorities need to step in before something worse happens.”
With thousands of Moroccan students and residents in Senegal, these incidents showed the fragility of security during major public events and the need for better crowd management and protection for foreign communities.
The community now faces the difficult task of navigating fear while preserving the historic bonds between Morocco and Senegal, leaving the pressing question: where was security when it was needed most?