Senegal President Sall proposes amnesty amid election delay

Senegal grapples with a major political turmoil after President Macky Sall’s abrupt election postponement, as he introduces an amnesty bill amid ongoing tensions and arrests of opposition figures

Senegal is grappling with its most severe political crisis in decades following Macky Sall’s sudden postponement of the Feb. 25 presidential election just hours before the start of campaigning.

Although the constitutional council overturned the delay, Sall, whose second term is set to end on April 2, initiated two days of discussions to determine a new election date.

He introduced the amnesty bill at the beginning of what he termed a “national dialogue” on Monday, suggesting that it could serve to unite the country.

“In the spirit of national reconciliation, I will present to the national assembly this Wednesday, during the council of ministers, a bill for a general amnesty for actions related to political protests that occurred between 2021 and 2024,” Sall said.

According to various human rights organizations, over 1,000 individuals have been arrested since 2021 amid the power struggle involving opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and the government.

Both Sonko and his party’s alternate candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, are currently in jail.

Authorities have released hundreds of detainees within the last 10 days.

Furthermore, Cheikh Anta Diop University in the capital Dakar reopened its campus on monday after being shuttered for several months.

The proposal for an amnesty has sparked controversy among both government and opposition supporters.

Source: Newsroom

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