The President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, recognized the existence of a “moral debt” towards the victims of political violence that occurred between March 2021 and February 2024, as well as their families.
“The same moral duty that pushed us to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre also commits us to these victims,” declared the Head of State during his New Year’s speech.
Senegal went through a period of political crisis marked by violent demonstrations in a pre-electoral context, causing several dozen deaths. In March 2024, the National Assembly adopted an amnesty law covering the facts linked to these events. However, the new authorities have decided to reverse this law to establish responsibilities for this deadly violence.
“It is not a question of revenge, but of justice for the victims and their families, in order to appease them and reaffirm the sacredness of human life,” said Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
In his address to the nation, the president also invited the Senegalese to reflect on their common history and the values that unite them. “Let us take the time to look at ourselves in the mirror of our history to remember who we are, where we come from and where we aspire to go,” he insisted.
The Head of State called for national communion around the values of solidarity, unity and fraternity to build a common future. “The Senegal that we want will be built stone by stone, with humility and determination,” he concluded.
Senegal
