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Senegal’s former president, Macky Sall, has called for the repeal of an amnesty law that was enacted in March 2024, covering crimes linked to the violent suppression of political protests between 2021 and 2024.
The protests, primarily against Sall’s showdown with opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, turned deadly, with dozens of casualties and many injured or detained.
In his first public statement on the matter since stepping down, Sall challenged the new government, urging that if the political tensions are to be revisited, the amnesty law should be revoked.
“If people want to revisit the events, there are ways: the amnesty law must be repealed,” adding that, “At that point, cases will resurface. We will know who is who and who did what,” he said in a social media video.
The protests, which escalated into violent confrontations, claimed at least 65 lives, with the majority being young people who were shot by security forces during demonstrations. Some officials within the new administration even estimate the death toll at over 80.
Despite the amnesty law’s adoption, intended to ease tensions in the final days of Sall’s presidency, the new government has pledged to uncover the truth behind the deaths and deliver justice to the victims.
Sall, who is also a candidate for the United Nations Secretary-General position, vehemently rejected accusations that he was responsible for the deaths.
“You can’t accuse the president of the republic, who sits at the top of the pyramid and has defended the republic, and say he is responsible for murders,” he argued, calling such claims a narrative “totally out of step with reality.”
His remarks came after a meeting with NGOs in New York. The international community has been divided, as last month, about 20 African Union member states, including Senegal, declined to support Sall’s candidacy for the UN top job.
The violent protests have deeply impacted Senegal’s political landscape, leaving many demanding accountability and justice for the victims.
