Diary Sow, top Senegalese student, disappears in France

Diary Sow, a student at the prestigious Louis-Le-Grand high school goes missing in France.

Also read: Points of Departure: Photography from Senegal by Mamadou Gomis and Judith Quax

Diary Sow did not return back to school during the Christmas holidays prompting widespread concern in France and Senegal. In comments shared to the BBC, Ms. Sow is described as the “best student in Senegal" given the accolades and awards to her name in her novel year. Apparently, she has not seen Mr. Sow since the 4th of January.

Ms Sow is in her second year, currently at pre-university level, at the prestigious Parisian high school Lycée Louis-Le-Grand on a scholarship for excellence. Senegal’s consul in Paris declared her missing on January 7, posting the woman’s photograph and inviting anyone with information to reach them at +33 7 85 93 32 11 or send an email to info@consulsen-paris.com. Senegalese in the diaspora are mobilizing on social media to help in efforts aimed at finding her.

Other French celebrities like actor Omar Sy are sharing the appeal on his Twitter and Instagram social media accounts.

Nous sommes toujours sans nouvelles de Diary Sow 20ans, disparue depuis le 04 janvier 2021.
Merci de maintenir l'extraordinaire élan de solidarité afin de la retrouver saine et sauve #RetrouvonsDiarySow #retrouvonsds @kebetu @RokhayaDiallo @OmarSy @HapsatouSy @BeyeHabib pic.twitter.com/jka57P6mG7

— Consulat Sénégal (@ConsulSenParis1) January 10, 2021

AFP reports that neither her parents, friends, tutor or the embassy have heard any word from her. Senegalese press back at home has reported her disappearance while concerned citizens have begun sharing her photo as their avatar on Whatsapp’s instant messaging platform. 

Dairy Sow won the prize for best Senegal student in 2018 and 2019, even wrote a novel in France titled “The Face of an Angel".