Before hastily leaving the country, Macky Sall managed to keep his back. But the amnesty law, which he voted for, could fail. Ousmane Sonko seems ready to do anything to bring justice to the victims of the demonstrations from 2021 to 2024. Even if the action is salutary, the leader of the Party of African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) goes all out straight towards a trap. The current Prime Minister and his supporters risk regretting this electoral promise from the patriot in chief.
During his meeting in Ziguinchor, Ousmane Sonko promised to repeal the amnesty law once the parliamentary majority was acquired. For him, this law promotes impunity and, therefore, all those involved in it, including former President Macky Sall, must be held accountable. Appearing before the RFM Grand Jury this Sunday, Ismaila Madior Fall, former Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, thinks that what is needed instead is “a justice and reconciliation commission”.
Thus, the debate on the question of amnesty is relaunched. Sonko wants to do justice to all these young people who fell after his numerous calls to demonstrate. This law passed on the sly under Macky Sall is the most contested. On Pastef’s side, voices are increasingly being raised to demand its repeal. Something the Prime Minister promised. But he already needs one thing: the majority. “There are people who have very short memories. The amnesty law is not for us and we will, once the majority is obtained, withdraw it,” he said. But it’s Sonko who seems to have a short memory.
Sonko and Macky have all refuted that there was a deal. A common vision that Madiambal Diagne rejects. In any case, Pastef is the biggest beneficiary of this amnesty law. Their presidential candidate benefited from this amnesty measure in the two cases for which he was charged and placed in pre-trial detention. Ousmane Sonko also benefited from this controversial law. Because it was after his vote that he was able to go out into the countryside with other members of Pastef. An outing which was decisive for the election of Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
After the passing of this law, thousands of young people left the country’s various prisons. Except that the majority of these people have not been tried. If this law is repealed, “political detainees” would have to return to preventive detention while they stand trial. For Ousmane Sonko, things appear more delicate. Indicted in July for a series of offenses directly linked to the political unrest that occurred in the country in 2023 (call for insurrection, attack on state security, etc.), the leader of Pastef could also return to preventive detention while awaiting his judgment.
In the Mame Mbaye Niang case, Ousmane Sonko is definitively sentenced for public defamation in January 2024, to a suspended prison sentence. This conviction, which is the origin of his ineligibility, is not taken into account by this law. So, this amnesty remains a judicial sword of Damocles which continues to threaten the president of Pastef. Because his conviction in absentia to two years of imprisonment for “corruption of youth” in the Adji Sarr affair is not covered by this law.
This private matter does not fall under the type of offenses listed by the draft. And all the rapes alleged in this case would have been committed, for the most part, before the date of February 1, 2021 chosen as the starting point of the two-year period covered by the amnesty. “The Adji Sarr – Ousmane Sonko affair and the case against Mame Mbaye Niang have nothing to do (with the amnesty law). Because this law targets facts linked to demonstrations,” said the former Minister of Justice, Ismaila Madior Fall.
This is why many opponents do not think that Sonko will follow his logic through to the end. So, the leader of Pastef should rethink this decision that he is preparing to take once the majority is acquired. She could cause him serious problems. But for the victims of the latest demonstrations, it is unthinkable not to provide justice. So what will the current regime do to avoid attracting the wrath of the Senegalese?
Aliou Niakaar Ngom for news.sn
