Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Senegal’s pharmaceutical regulator is under mounting pressure following contradictory statements over the discovery of 1,300 kilograms of expired raw materials at a Softcare factory, a subsidiary of a Chinese group that manufactures baby diapers and sanitary pads.
The controversy erupted after the Agency for Pharmaceutical Regulation (ARP) announced on December 8 that products from the Softcare brand would be withdrawn from the market. The decision followed inspections that uncovered large quantities of expired raw materials at the company’s production facility.
However, just a week later, the agency reversed course, stating that the expired materials had not been used in the manufacture of the diapers.
The abrupt volte-face has fueled public skepticism and allegations of attempted corruption involving ARP inspectors, accusations that the company denies. The episode has also raised broader concerns about regulatory oversight and consumer safety, particularly given the sensitive nature of the products involved.
Opposition, Civil Society Demand Transparency
Opposition movement FRAPP (Front for an Anti-Imperialist, Popular, and Pan-African Revolution) has been vocal in demanding clarity. Magor Dieng, a member of the movement, questioned the credibility of the regulator’s explanations.
“Who is telling the truth? On what scientific and technical basis do these two contradictory statements rest? And above all, were Senegalese children exposed to potentially dangerous products or not?” Dieng asked.
He stressed that baby diapers cannot be treated as ordinary consumer goods. “These are products in direct, prolonged, and intimate contact with the fragile skin of infants. Any negligence can have serious consequences, including irritations, infections, hormonal disorders, or other long-term effects,” he said.
While FRAPP stopped short of condemning Softcare without conclusive evidence, the group insists that the lack of transparency is unacceptable. “We categorically reject ambiguity, silence, and contradictions. That is why we are formally calling for an official and definitive clarification from the Pharmaceutical Regulation Agency, based on verifiable facts,” Dieng added.
The Ministry of Health announced on December 19 that it would launch a joint investigative mission with the Ministry of Commerce to establish the facts surrounding the case. More than two weeks later, however, no findings have been made public, further deepening public unease.
Dr. Serigne Modou Babou has argued that the issue goes beyond Softcare and points to deeper structural problems within the ARP itself. “There have been reports for months, even more than a year, of opaque and questionable management within the Pharmaceutical Regulation Agency,” he said, noting that a formal request has been submitted for the publication of an audit of the regulator.
Public mobilization around the issue is growing. More than 1,000 citizens have signed a petition calling for full transparency in the manufacture of Softcare products. In parallel, a parliamentary information mission has been established to brief lawmakers and assess the handling of the case by regulatory authorities.
As scrutiny intensifies, health authorities and regulators are facing increasing demands to restore public trust by delivering clear, evidence-based conclusions on whether consumer safety was compromised and whether governance failures played a role in the unfolding scandal.
