The proposed amnesty bill seeks to mend divisions within the country and calm the political landscape, as over 1,000 individuals have been arrested since 2021 amidst ongoing political conflicts.
Senegal’s President Macky Sall has proposed a general amnesty bill aimed at pardoning political protesters who have been arrested since 2021.
This initiative coincides with his efforts to address the recent unrest stemming from delays in elections.
He unveiled the amnesty bill at the commencement of what he described as a “national dialogue” on Monday, indicating its potential to unify the country.
Facing its worst political crisis in decades, Senegal is reeling from President Sall’s abrupt decision to defer the February 25 presidential vote just hours before campaigning was set to commence.
The Constitutional Council overturned the delay, prompting President Sall, whose second term is set to conclude on April 2, to initiate two days of discussions aimed at determining a new date for the election.
“In a spirit of national reconciliation, I will put before the National Assembly this Wednesday in the council of ministers a bill for a general amnesty for acts relating to political demonstrations that took place between 2021 and 2024,” Sall said on Monday.
He further added, “This will contribute to pacifying the political landscape.”
In line with reports from various rights groups, over 1,000 individuals have been detained since 2021 amidst the power struggle between opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and the state.
Currently, both Sonko and his party’s alternate candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, are in custody. In the past 10 days, authorities have released hundreds of detainees.
Additionally, Cheikh Anta Diop University in the capital Dakar reopened its campus on Monday after being closed for several months.
The proposal for an amnesty has ignited controversy among both government and opposition supporters.
Critics argue that it could excuse violent acts committed by demonstrators, while the opposition camp fears it might be utilized to absolve government and security officials of any responsibility for the deaths of protesters.