Senegal hosts a large number of refugees from different nationalities of the sub-region and the African continent. Its asylum system causes enormous difficulties in determining refugee status. These shortcomings affect and exacerbate the suffering of these vulnerable people.

Since 1982 a conflict has erupted in the southern part of Senegal where the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) are at odds with the government of Senegal. This crisis has caused the forced displacement of thousands of people.