Senegal's prime minister denounced the rise of "xenophobic" rhetoric in the West African nation on Tuesday, while also calling on foreigners to strictly adhere to residency regulations.
Campaigners have recently spoken of an uptick in xenophobic rhetoric in the media and on social media, and urged the country to take action.
Speaking to the National Assembly to present his government programme, Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo said that Senegal "cannot be a country that is open, with citizens living all over the world... while allowing xenophobic rhetoric to flourish here".
He added that such rhetoric runs counter to Senegal's values and customs.
‘Mixed heritage’
"We are all of mixed heritage. We all have relatives across the sub-region. Let us put an end to this stigmatisation, it does us no credit", he said.
However, he added that there was an "urgent need" for foreigners in Senegal to comply with the rules governing their stay.
He also announced plans to tighten border controls by upgrading existing electronic systems.
