Senegal’s parliament voted Wednesday to revise a controversial amnesty law, clearing the way for prosecutions over killings and abuses during protests between 2021 and 2024. The changes follow public demands for justice after at least 65 people died in clashes linked to political unrest.
Lawmakers passed the original law in March 2024 under former President Macky Sall. It protected both protesters and security forces from legal action for acts during protests sparked by fears Sall was trying to stay in power beyond his term—a claim he denied. Most deaths occurred when security forces fired live bullets at crowds, according to Amnesty International.
The crisis worsened in 2023 after authorities arrested Ousmane Sonko, a popular opposition leader. The clashes became Senegal’s deadliest unrest since independence from France in 1960. Current President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Sonko—now prime minister—were jailed during the protests but freed when the amnesty took effect.
Under the new changes, approved by a 126-20 vote, amnesty no longer covers murder, torture, or forced disappearances. Minor offenses like vandalism remain protected.
“This stops killers and abusers from hiding behind the law,” said ruling party lawmaker Oumar Sy during debates. But opposition leaders argue the changes unfairly target security forces while ignoring protesters accused of burning buildings and attacking officers. “This law picks sides—it’s not justice,” said opposition MP Alassane Sall.
Former officials and police deny using excessive force, though witnesses told Reuters officers shot directly at crowds. Rights groups say families of victims still lack clear paths to seek accountability.
The decision tests President Faye’s promise to heal divisions after the violence. While activists call it a step toward justice, critics warn it risks deepening political tensions in a nation once seen as a model of stability in West Africa.