Dakar 2026 JOJ security forces face certification test

Security forces preparing for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will move into their certification phase on October 6 and 7, following a large-scale exercise designed to test their readiness. The assessment comes only weeks before the Games and will follow the SEC.EX exercise held on September 28 and 29.

SEC.EX examined coordination between the operations coordination centre, operational command posts, tactical command posts and deployed units. Police, gendarmerie and other services worked through complex scenarios across several sites, with the locally responsible force leading each response and support coming from other units.

The first day involved six simulated incidents. They included maritime and land emergencies around Saly Beach West and Lamantin Beach, ticketing fraud and a bomb alert at Iba Mar Diop Stadium, and multiple threats at the Tour de l’Œuf complex. Gendarmes also handled scenarios involving road traffic, the Olympic Village and Abdoulaye Wade Stadium.

The second day focused on two larger simulations: a hostage situation at the Terrou-Bi hotel and a security incident on the Regional Express Train. The exercise also tested specialist interventions, evacuations, negotiations, crowd management and emergency medical coordination. All incidents were fictional, with no real attack or hostage-taking involved.