Senegalese authorities announced the arrest of 14 suspects in a criminal network allegedly run by French national Pierre Robert, who sexually exploited children in the country. Robert was previously arrested in France in April 2025.
The suspects, all Senegalese, face charges including “child rape, pimping, acts against nature and the deliberate transmission of HIV,” according to police. The network, which has reportedly operated since 2017, allegedly forced boys into unprotected sex with HIV-positive men and filmed the acts. Four
individuals are accused of serving as “sex trainers,” reportedly admitting to abuse in exchange for payments from Robert.
Coordinated raids in Dakar and Kaolack, about 200 km southeast of the capital, followed a joint investigation between Senegalese and French authorities. The number of children affected remains unclear.
Senegal enforces strict penalties for sexual abuse of minors, with sentences of five to ten years for offences involving children under 16, though enforcement has historically been hindered by limited resources and gaps in judicial follow-up.