In early May 2024, Russian media and Telegram channels reported that the authorities of the African country deprived the French of the state status, replacing it with Arabic. We decided to check if this is so.
On May 5, the news about the change of state language in Senegal from French to Arabic published "Russian newspaper" - the official print body of the Government of the Russian Federation. The publication did not mention any sources, only wrote that this decision was one of the first, adopted by the new leadership of the country. They also wrote about this "The arguments of the week".
The new President of Senegal, Basser Diomai Fay officially took office on April 2. A week earlier is a politician Won the election, gaining 54% of the vote. His Pastef party comes up with Panafrican positions - in the program of the candidate who, shortly before the election, was in prison on charges of trying to armed rebellion, It is said about the need to release from French influence. True, it was primarily about economic rather than cultural dependence.
The earliest Russian -speaking post in Telegram on the change of the state language in Senegal, which managed to find “verified” using the TGSTAT service, is a record in the channel Sahwapublished on April 30 at 08:04 Moscow time. As a confirmation, a screenshot in X in Arabic was attached to the post, which was placed by the account of the Arabic language online academy located in Saudi Arabia. Since April 29, similar messages began to apply to Arabic And French languages. Website Middle East Monitor He wrote about this on April 30 and indicated that the decision was made on the Sunday (that is, held on April 28) a meeting of the Council of Ministers.
The status of a particular language in most countries is regulated by law. French is the only state language in Senegal since the country gained independence from France in 1960. Now the editorial office is valid Constitutionadopted in 2001, and the first chapter of the Basic Law states: “The official language of the Republic of Senegal is French. National languages are Diola, Maninka, Fula, Surrer, Soninka, Volof and any other national language that will be codified. ” All documentation is carried out in French, it also publishes texts of laws and transcripts of government meetings.
On April 28, contrary to what the media and users of social networks wrote, there were no meetings of the Council of Ministers of the Senegal. Judging by stenigram On the website of the country's government (available in two versions - in French and English), it took place on April 24, on Wednesday. The meeting discussed issues of economics and social security, no official language was referred to. The text has only one mention of the word “Arabic” - in the context of supporting teachers of French and Arabic languages.
The next meeting took place May 2, after the first publications on the allegedly changing the state language. But it also did not say anything about Arabic and French.
Finally, journalists of a factory project Les Observateurs The France 24 television channel received a commentary on the administration of the President of Senegal, where they were assured that the official language in the country did not change.
Messages about the break with France, which are accompanied by a statement about changing the language, are also exaggerated. At a press conference after the elections to the Basser Diomai Fay declaredThat first of all would take care of national interests, but assured that his country would remain a “faithful and reliable ally” for all foreign partners. Given that the former metropolis It is necessary A significant part of the Senegal Import, these words can be regarded as a reluctance to quarrel with France. This is also important against the backdrop of changes in neighboring countries of Western and Central Africa: in recent years, Burkina-Faso, Mali, the Central African Republic and Niger They openly declared About the break with France, intensified cooperation with Russia and began to use the services of the Wagner PMC mercenaries.
Photo on the cover: website President Senegal
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