Senegal’s parliament erupted in debate on Wednesday over a proposed amnesty bill. The legislation aims to appease the ongoing political crisis triggered by the postponement of the presidential election. However, the bill has become a contentious issue itself.
Opposition lawmakers have fiercely criticized the bill, arguing that it grants immunity to perpetrators of serious crimes, including homicide, committed during demonstrations. They also express concerns about the potential for political manipulation surrounding the bill’s passage. A vote is expected later today, but its outcome remains uncertain.
The amnesty proposal stems from President Macky Sall’s attempt to quell the unrest following his last-minute decision to delay the February 25th presidential election. This delay ignited deadly protests across the traditionally stable West African nation, which is still awaiting a rescheduled election date.
The bill proposes an amnesty for “all acts likely to be classified as criminal or correctional offences” committed between February 1st, 2021, and February 25th, 2024, as long as they were related to demonstrations or politically motivated. This period encompasses several episodes of violent unrest in Senegal, particularly fueled by the ongoing conflict between opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and the government. These clashes resulted in dozens of fatalities, hundreds of injuries, and mass arrests amidst property damage and confrontations with security forces. The most recent wave of deadly protests arose in February following the election delay.
While the President’s office claims the amnesty aims to “calm the political and social climate,” the bill faces strong opposition from various political and social actors. They fear it could be exploited to exonerate government officials and security forces responsible for protester deaths. Additionally, the potential release of dozens of detained opposition members upon the bill’s enactment further complicates the situation.
