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Xenophobia’s Contours During an Ebola Epidemic: Proximity and the Targeting of Peul Migrants in Senegal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 August 2019

Ato Kwamena Onoma
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Abstract:

This article examines the effect of geographical proximity on targeting patterns during Ebola-era xenophobic outbursts by Senegalese against a migrant Peul population of Guinean origins. It highlights the limited extent to which epidemics shape the micro-dynamics of outbreaks of xenophobia during public health crises, demonstrating that epidemics are not defining events that inflect inter-group relations. They mostly reinforce long-persisting patterns of exclusion. The conclusion is that the contours of xenophobia in contexts marked by public health crises and in those situations in which these issues of public health do not constitute a major concern tend to mirror each other.

Résumé:

Résumé:

Cet article examine l’effet de la proximité géographique sur le ciblage pendant des éclats xénophobes contre les migrants Peuls par des Sénégalais durant l’épidémie de maladie à virus Ébola. Il met l’accent sur l’influence limitée des épidémies sur les micro-dynamiques des éclats de la xénophobie pendant des crises des sante publique, démontrant ainsi que les épidémies ne représentent pas des événements déterminants qui transforment les relations intercommunautaires. Au contraire, ils renforcent des tendances d’exclusion déjà existant dans les sociétés. La conclusion et que les schémas de la xénophobie, que ce soit dans des contextes marqués par des crises de santé publique ou dans des situations dans lesquelles ces problèmes de santé publique ne constituent pas une préoccupation majeure, ont tendance à se refléter.

Resumo:

Resumo:

O presente artigo analisa o impacto da proximidade geográfica na definição dos alvos dos ataques xenófobos dos senegaleses contra as populações migrantes de etnia Fula, durante o período da epidemia do Ébola. O enfoque é dado à diminuta influência que as epidemias exercem na microdinâmica dos surtos de xenofobia em períodos de crise de saúde pública, demonstrando-se que as epidemias não constituem acontecimentos marcantes que infletem as relações intercomunitários. As epidemias se limitam a reforçar padrões há muito existentes nas relações intergrupais. Conclui-se que, tendencialmente, as características da xenofobia em contextos de crise de saúde pública e em contextos onde as questões de saúde pública não constituem preocupação de maior são reflexo umas das outras.

Keywords

inter-communal relationsxenophobiaEbolaSenegalPeul
Type
Article
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 63 , Issue 2 , June 2020 , pp. 353 - 374
Copyright
© African Studies Association 2019

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