THE Senegalese government said Saturday it will investigate dozens of deaths resulting from political violence between 2021 and 2024, despite an amnesty rushed through by the previous government.
“To leave these deaths unpunished would send a bad signal,” Justice Minister Ousmane Diagne told members of parliament. “We assure you that all light will be shed.”
“Responsibility will be established and those who instigated them will be held accountable,” he added.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected president of Senegal at the end of March after three years of unrest under his predecessor Macky Sall (2012-2024) that left dozens dead, according to NGOs and the opposition at the time.
Just before the election, Sall pushed through an amnesty covering those events.
The law was intended to ease tensions in the run-up to the presidential vote, and allowed hundreds of people to be released from prison, including Faye and his Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who have nevertheless promised to repeal it.
Parliament on Saturday also abolished two consultative institutions, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) and the High Council of Local Authorities (HCCT), which the new government deemed to be a waste of money.
Senegal elected a new parliament in November, with Faye’s party winning 130 of the 165 seats.
