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Eyewitness News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Senegal president opens dialogue on political reform
DIAMNIADIO - Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Wednesday formally opened a national dialogue aimed at steering the west African country through political reform and "consolidating democracy" after a series of violent crises. The move, which the head of state launched along with his prime minister, Ousmane Sonko, comes against a backdrop of tension between Faye's administration and the opposition. Several opposition parties boycotted the process, however, including that of former president Macky Sall, who was succeeded by Faye last year after 12 years at the helm and who accuses the authorities of persecuting his party's officials. Faye and Sonko have promised to hold to account former leaders, notably Sall himself, accusing them of mismanagement. A clutch of legal proceedings have been launched against Sall-era officials, and a special court recently indicted five former ministers for alleged embezzlement. Of the five, three - including Sall's brother-in-law - were incarcerated. The other two were released on parole. Most opposition forces did, however, take part in the opening ceremony of the consultation in the new town of Diamniadio, just outside the capital, Dakar. 'UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY' The consultations, presented as the fifth edition of a "National Dialogue" first initiated by Sall himself, also bring together members of civil society, unions, experts and academics. Topics will include overhauling the political party system, the "status" of the opposition, the revision of the sponsorship system required to be a presidential candidate and the transformation of the existing Constitutional Council into a Constitutional Court. The goal is to create a "strong consensus to sustainably strengthen Senegalese democracy and fully guarantee the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms", according to the government. "These consultations offer us a unique opportunity to reflect on our political system," said Faye. The country's recent history showed that change was needed, he added, "to remove from our electoral system all roots of disagreement, especially between the government and opposition". Faye committed to an opposition that is "respected" and that can "freely exercise its rights in accordance with the law". The conclusions of the consultations are expected to be submitted to Faye on 4 June. Senegal has experienced recurring conflicts in its recent history, notably during violent unrest that saw dozens of mostly young people shot dead between 2021 and 2024. Sall, who ruled Senegal with an iron fist for over a decade, was long suspected of wanting to extend his rule into a third term. Sonko, his political rival, was declared ineligible to stand in elections last year and was jailed for several months. But he and his right-hand man Faye were released with hundreds of other opposition supporters due to an amnesty law. Faye was elected president soon afterwards.
eNCA
08-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Senegal MPs weigh graft cases against ex-ministers
Senegalese lawmakers on Thursday began debating whether to allow several former ministers to face charges before a special court over accusations they embezzled funds meant for the country's fight against Covid. Senegal's National Assembly is largely controlled by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's party, who was elected in March last year on a promise to change how the west African country is run compared to his predecessors. Faye has made the fight against corruption a policy priority and has launched investigations into the administration of Macky Sall, who was president from 2012 for 12 years. But the opposition has slammed the moves as a "witchhunt". Last Friday, lawmakers lifted parliamentary immunity from prosecution for two opposition MPs caught up in the allegations while serving in Sall's administration. Proceedings of this type are rare in Senegal and cases against former ministers in the exercise of their duties must be authorised by lawmakers. Moustapha Diop was industrial development minister while Salimata Diop was the women's affairs minister under Sall when the fund to fight the spread of Covid-19 was established in 2020-21. Both have rejected accusations they misappropriated any of the money, which totalled one trillion CFA francs ($1.7 billion). The funds were intended to reinforce the healthcare system, support households and the private sector and protect jobs during the pandemic. However, a December 2022 Court of Auditors report revealed irregularities, such as 2.7 billion CFA francs in over-invoicing of rice purchased for disadvantaged households and some 42 million CFA francs for sanitiser. Three other former ministers accused are Amadou Mansour Faye, also the former president's brother-in-law, Aissatou Sophie Gladima and Ismaila Madior Fall. Several prominent figures, including artists, broadcasters, fashion designers, as well as senior officials, have been questioned during an investigation. Parliament lifted immunity for Moustapha Diop and Salimata Diop last Friday as they were elected as lawmakers in November after Sall left office. A three-fifths majority of the 165 lawmakers is required for the adoption of each draft resolution, with voting by secret ballot. The accused could then face questioning from the High Court's investigative committee, which will decide whether or not to commit them for trial. The court's final decision is not subject to appeal. By Malick Rokhy Ba
TimesLIVE
25-04-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Senegal top court rejects bid to lift amnesty for protest deaths
Senegal's top court has rejected a move by lawmakers to revise an amnesty law that would have paved the way for possible prosecutions over the deaths of dozens of protesters during anti-government demonstrations between 2021 and 2024. The West African country's parliament had approved revisions earlier this month to the law, which was passed in March 2024 under former President Macky Sall to pardon offences committed by both security forces and protesters. Riots broke out across Senegal in the run-up to elections on March 24 last year, fuelled by concerns that Sall was muzzling his opponents and seeking to stay in power beyond the end of his mandate. At least 65 people were killed, mostly by bullets, according to Amnesty International, making it Senegal's deadliest violent episode since it won independence from France in 1960. Sall's government and the security forces denied any wrongdoing, although witnesses at the time told Reuters that security forces fired on crowds. Rights groups and lawyers called for the amnesty law to be repealed because it left families of the dead with no recourse for justice. The proposed revisions, passed by lawmakers on April 2, would have removed the amnesty for specific crimes including murder, torture and forced disappearance unless those actions had "a link to the exercise of public freedom or a democratic right", according to the ruling by the Constitutional Court published on Wednesday. But the court found that such crimes violated the constitution and could therefore not be pardoned under any circumstances, including under the amnesty law. Opposition coalition Takku Wallu Senegal welcomed the court's decision in a statement. Opposition lawmakers had previously voiced concerns that the proposed revisions were one-sided and would shield those protesters whom they accused of looting and stoking violence. Senegal's ruling party Pastef also reacted positively to the ruling, saying that although the revisions it supported had been rejected, the Constitutional Court had affirmed that individuals could file complaints for serious crimes. Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko were both released from prison after the amnesty law took effect, shortly before the vote that swept them to power.
Reuters
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Senegal top court rejects bid to lift amnesty for protest deaths
DAKAR, April 24 (Reuters) - Senegal's top court has rejected a move by lawmakers to revise an amnesty law that would have paved the way for possible prosecutions over the deaths of dozens of protesters during anti-government demonstrations between 2021 and 2024. The West African country's parliament had approved revisions earlier this month to the law, which was passed in March 2024 under former President Macky Sall to pardon offences committed by both security forces and protesters. Riots broke out across Senegal in the run-up to elections on March 24 last year, fuelled by concerns that Sall was muzzling his opponents and seeking to stay in power beyond the end of his mandate. At least 65 people were killed, mostly by bullets, according to Amnesty International, making it Senegal's deadliest violent episode since it won independence from France in 1960. Sall's government and the security forces denied any wrongdoing, although witnesses at the time told Reuters that security forces fired on crowds. Rights groups and lawyers called for the amnesty law to be repealed because it left families of the dead with no recourse for justice. The proposed revisions, passed by lawmakers on April 2, would have removed the amnesty for specific crimes including murder, torture and forced disappearance unless those actions had "a link to the exercise of public freedom or a democratic right", according to the ruling by the Constitutional Court published on Wednesday. But the court found that such crimes violated the constitution and could therefore not be pardoned under any circumstances, including under the amnesty law. Opposition coalition Takku Wallu Senegal welcomed the court's decision in a statement. Opposition lawmakers had previously voiced concerns that the proposed revisions were one-sided and would shield those protesters whom they accused of looting and stoking violence. Senegal's ruling party Pastef also reacted positively to the ruling, saying that although the revisions it supported had been rejected, the Constitutional Court had affirmed that individuals could file complaints for serious crimes. Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko were both released from prison after the amnesty law took effect, shortly before the vote that swept them to power.
The Star
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Senegal top court rejects bid to lift amnesty for protest deaths
DAKAR (Reuters) - Senegal's top court has rejected a move by lawmakers to revise an amnesty law that would have paved the way for possible prosecutions over the deaths of dozens of protesters during anti-government demonstrations between 2021 and 2024. The West African country's parliament had approved revisions earlier this month to the law, which was passed in March 2024 under former President Macky Sall to pardon offences committed by both security forces and protesters. Riots broke out across Senegal in the run-up to elections on March 24 last year, fuelled by concerns that Sall was muzzling his opponents and seeking to stay in power beyond the end of his mandate. At least 65 people were killed, mostly by bullets, according to Amnesty International, making it Senegal's deadliest violent episode since it won independence from France in 1960. Sall's government and the security forces denied any wrongdoing, although witnesses at the time told Reuters that security forces fired on crowds. Rights groups and lawyers called for the amnesty law to be repealed because it left families of the dead with no recourse for justice. The proposed revisions, passed by lawmakers on April 2, would have removed the amnesty for specific crimes including murder, torture and forced disappearance unless those actions had "a link to the exercise of public freedom or a democratic right", according to the ruling by the Constitutional Court published on Wednesday. But the court found that such crimes violated the constitution and could therefore not be pardoned under any circumstances, including under the amnesty law. Opposition coalition Takku Wallu Senegal welcomed the court's decision in a statement. Opposition lawmakers had previously voiced concerns that the proposed revisions were one-sided and would shield those protesters whom they accused of looting and stoking violence. Senegal's ruling party Pastef also reacted positively to the ruling, saying that although the revisions it supported had been rejected, the Constitutional Court had affirmed that individuals could file complaints for serious crimes. Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko were both released from prison after the amnesty law took effect, shortly before the vote that swept them to power. (Reporting by Diadie Ba; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Gareth Jones)
