Is it safe to withdraw cash in Senegal or not?
Avoid the ATM next to the fuel station on Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop - it's not always functional and has no lighting after dusk. Better to stick to machines inside banks or malls.
I lived in Senegal for 3 months filming urban street culture. Always used the ATM inside Sea Plaza Mall before it closed. It’s the safest bet, even late. Street ATMs? Not worth the risk after sundown.
In Saint-Louis, I found a working UBA ATM, but it was completely deserted by 9 PM. I returned the next morning instead. Locals warned me about opportunistic pickpockets around quieter machines.
In Dakar, I withdrew CFA francs from an Ecobank ATM near Plateau at 10 PM. The street had light traffic and some cafes still open. Withdrawing money after dark in Senegal is okay in central Dakar, but not something I’d recommend in outer districts.