The Senegalese Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (ARP) is going through a deep institutional crisis, according to the Inter-union group composed of SAMES and SUTSAS, which is warning of a series of internal dysfunctions likely to harm public health.

In a statement released on Thursday, January 8, 2026, the unions cited instances of poor governance, suspicions of drug trafficking, and the Softcare affair, arguing that these elements tarnish the agency's credibility and Senegal's image.

Faced with this situation, which they consider worrying, the inter-union group says it has requested the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to shed full light on the issues raised. The staff consider this request legitimate given the strategic role of the ARP in drug regulation.

However, according to the unions, management refused this request and responded with pressure, including threats of salary deductions against employees involved in the process. This attitude was perceived as an attempt at intimidation aimed at discouraging any reporting of internal misconduct.

The unions assert that their mobilization has no other objective than the protection of public health, recalling that access to safe, effective and quality medicines is a fundamental requirement.

Furthermore, their action aims to prevent bacterial resistance, avoid the marketing of ineffective treatments, preserve the purchasing power of the most vulnerable populations and guarantee national health security.

The inter-union group also highlights the results achieved by the ARP in recent years, notably reaching Maturity Level 3, an international recognition that has elevated the agency to a benchmark in Francophone Africa. The unions believe this achievement is now threatened by the practices they denounce and by what they consider an opaque governance environment.

The agents also question the persistence of certain practices despite the change in political power, recruitment procedures which they consider to be opaque, and the refusal to open an independent investigation into what they describe as serious matters.

They also denounce attempts to prevent agents from reporting breaches of pharmaceutical ethics, as well as the questioning of official reports signed by authorized authorities, without a clear regulatory basis.

Referring to the political promise of change embodied by the slogan "Jubb, Jubbali, Jubbanti," the unions note with bitterness the persistence of abuses they thought were a thing of the past. They believe that success built on questionable practices cannot be sustainable and warn that the truth will eventually come to light if no corrective action is taken.

The SAMES-SUTSAS inter-union alliance is issuing an urgent appeal to the highest authorities in the country to intervene immediately to preserve this strategic institution, guarantee the integrity of its regulatory mission, and restore public trust. The issue at stake goes beyond mere professional demands and directly concerns the protection of public health.