Amnesty International demands justice and support for victims of protests in Senegal from 2021-2024, criticizing the recent amnesty law shielding security forces. With deaths and injuries reported during these protests, the organization emphasizes the need for accountable actions and sufficient reparations. Financial assistance has been provided but is deemed inadequate without judicial reform.
Amnesty International is urging the Senegalese authorities to ensure justice, truth, and reparation for victims affected by the violent repression of protests occurring from 2021 to 2024. The recent amnesty law, enacted on March 6, 2024, covers offenses related to demonstrations during this period, which include excessive force used by security forces during protests triggered by the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
During the protests, at least 65 individuals were killed, primarily from gunfire, and over 1,000 were injured, with an additional 2,000 arrests made. Amnesty International stated the necessity for prosecuting security forces implicated in unlawful acts, emphasizing that the amnesty law should be repealed to uphold justice for victims.
Seydi Gassama, executive director of Amnesty International Senegal, highlighted the inadequacy of financial assistance provided to some victims as merely a preliminary step. He asserted that the payment does not fulfill the victims’ demand for comprehensive justice, nor does it ensure such violent occurrences will not recur.
The protests began in March 2021 following Sonko’s arrest and extended over the subsequent years amid ongoing political tensions, including allegations against then-president Macky Sall regarding third-term ambitions and delays in presidential elections.
Following the significant legislative victory in November 2024, Prime Minister Sonko committed to repealing the amnesty law to ensure accountability for the 2021-2024 protests. In 2024, the Ministry of Family and Solidarities initiated financial support for victims, with assistance expanding in January 2025 to families of deceased individuals and additional detainees. However, this support was provided outside a judicial framework, prompting calls from organizations like Amnesty International for more robust measures to protect the right to peaceful protest.
In conclusion, Amnesty International is calling for the Senegalese government to repeal the amnesty law and ensure accountability for the security forces’ use of excessive force during protests from 2021 to 2024. Although financial assistance for victims has been initiated, it is not sufficient to meet their broader demands for justice and protection of rights. The ongoing political climate remains precarious, and the outcomes from the recent elections may influence future efforts towards justice for victims of human rights violations.
Original Source: www.zawya.com
