By Edrissa Jallow, @EdrissaJallow10
The President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall has announced in a tweet that the country will observe a three-day mourning for the death of over thirty-nine people on Sunday 8th January 2022. The unfortunate incident believed to be the deadliest bus crash in the country occurred in the central part of Senegal, Gniby some kilometres from Kaffrine.
President Sall took to social media to express his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and to declare three days of national mourning from Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th January 2022.
Yesterday 8th January 2022, Senegal woke up to the devastating news of the car crash. Many officials, international organizations such as Amnesty International Senegal, and the country’s main prominent opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko have expressed sadness following the unfortunate accident and further pray for both the injured and deceased.
According to a publication by Reuters, a statement from a local prosecutor highlighted that “the accident occurred after the tyre of one passenger bus burst, sending it into the path of another bus coming in the opposite direction”. The report further outlined that the accident is “one of the deadliest in the West African country’s recent memory”.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic road accident today in Gniby, causing 40 deaths and many serious injuries. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” said President Macky Sall via Twitter.
President Sall who doubles as the Chairperson of The African Union noted that an “inter-ministerial council will be held on the same date to take firm measures on road safety and public passenger transport”.
Suite au grave accident de ce jour à Gniby ayant causé 40 morts, j’ai décidé d’un deuil national de 3 jours à compter du 9 janvier. Un conseil interministériel se tiendra à la même date pour la prise de mesures fermes sur la sécurité routière et le transport public des voyageurs.
— Macky Sall (@Macky_Sall) January 8, 2023
Je suis profondément attristé par le tragique accident routier de ce jour, à Gniby, occasionnant 40 morts et de nombreux blessés graves. J’adresse mes condoléances émues aux familles des victimes et souhaite prompt rétablissement aux blessés.
— Macky Sall (@Macky_Sall) January 8, 2023
