Camer360

Senegal has taken a historic step toward transparency and accountability by adopting a law to protect whistleblowers, becoming the first French-speaking sub-Saharan country to do so. The legislation, passed on 26 August 2025 by the National Assembly in Dakar, aims to shield individuals who disclose corruption, financial crimes, or other misconduct affecting the public interest. According to the parliamentary report, whistleblowers will be able to submit information anonymously, either internally within government institutions or to relevant external authorities. Those whose disclosures lead to the recovery of illicit funds will also receive a reward equivalent to 10 percent of the assets recovered, or an amount set by the authorities.

Jimmy Kande, West Africa director of the Platform for the Protection of Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), hailed the development as “a historic moment for Senegalese democracy and for the continent.” He noted, however, that the law remains limited in scope, as it primarily covers corruption and financial offences, leaving out issues such as environmental violations, public health risks, or human rights abuses. PPLAAF has called for further reforms to broaden protection, clarify definitions such as “good faith,” create safeguards against retaliation, and establish a special fund for whistleblowers.

The whistleblower law is part of a package of reforms adopted by Senegal’s parliament to reinforce transparency, including legislation on access to information, the creation of an anti-fraud and anti-corruption body, and the extension of asset declaration requirements to magistrates and investigating judges.

The move highlights a stark contrast with Cameroon, where whistleblowers and investigative journalists continue to face persecution rather than protection. In 2023, journalist and whistleblower Martinez Zogo was brutally murdered after exposing high-level corruption scandals, a killing that drew international outrage and underscored the risks of speaking out in Cameroon. Other activists and whistleblowers have been harassed, arrested, or forced into exile for denouncing embezzlement and mismanagement, painting a picture of a system where exposing wrongdoing is punished rather than rewarded.

While Senegal is sending a strong signal by encouraging transparency and safeguarding those who expose corruption, Cameroon is doing the opposite, silencing its truth-tellers and deepening its reputation as a hostile environment for accountability. The contrast between the two countries illustrates divergent democratic trajectories: Senegal pushing forward with reforms that strengthen institutions, while Cameroon clings to authoritarian practices that endanger those who dare to challenge power.