No political motive behind Dakar mosque access incident, source assures

A brief incident involving Morocco’s ambassador to Senegal being stopped by security at a mosque in Dakar following Eid al-Fitr prayers was due to routine protocol procedures and not political reasons, a Hespress AR source familiar with the situation said.

A video circulating online showed Hassan Naciri being temporarily prevented by security personnel from accessing the courtyard of the Hassan II Mosque after prayers attended by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and members of the government.

The source said the restriction was part of standard arrangements governing the movement of officials, particularly when the president exits the mosque to deliver a public statement.

Access through certain entry points was limited to the president and his immediate entourage, requiring additional security measures.

According to the same source, Senegal’s chief of protocol later intervened to allow the Moroccan ambassador to pass.

The envoy had reportedly insisted on allowing an accompanying adviser to join him, which contributed to the brief delay.

Both individuals eventually reached the designated area where the president delivered remarks. The ambassador greeted President Faye both after the Eid sermon and again following the press statement, conveying greetings from King Mohammed VI, the source added.

The incident drew reactions from some members of the Moroccan community in Senegal, who linked it to recent tensions following a decision by the Confederation of African Football to award Morocco the Africa Cup of Nations title.

However, the source rejected such interpretations as “inaccurate and misleading.”

“All procedures were conducted under normal protocol conditions,” the source said, noting that the ambassador had been accorded standard diplomatic courtesies throughout the event, including a reserved place inside the mosque and official escort upon arrival.

The source also pointed out that ambassadors from other Muslim-majority countries present at the mosque did not join the press area, underscoring that access arrangements were selective and protocol-driven.