Ousmane Sonko. Senegal’s Prime Minister and influential leader of ruling PASTEF
Dakar, Senegal
Senegal’s Prime Minister and influential leader of the ruling PASTEF party, Ousmane Sonko, has reacted to the ruling by the Constitutional Council clarifying the scope of a controversial 2024 amnesty law, hailing it as a victory for justice and a blow to the country’s struggling opposition. His position, which he posted on his X account, resonated deeply across Senegal.
The protests that engulfed the country and claimed many victims between 2021 and 2024 are still fresh in many people’s minds. There are still demands for justice for those who were victims of excessive force by security forces. The Council’s ruling is regarded as a major turning point in an ongoing effort towards reconciliation.
Sonko established himself as a popular opposition leader and a major presidential hopeful. As a result, his arrest triggered widespread protests. In 2023, Macky Sall’s administration shut down PASTEF, accusing it of stirring up trouble, and threw Sonko in jail for insurrection. A defamation ruling later that year sidelined him from the 2024 election.
Many believed the charges against him were politically driven. A former tax inspector, he had emerged as a voice for Senegal’s young people. In 2014, he established PASTEF to fight corruption and push for reform.
With Sonko sidelined, his ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye stepped in. Faye was later jailed on similar charges, but a March 2024 amnesty law freed them just before the election. Faye then won the presidency, marking a fresh start for Senegal after years of unrest under Sall, who faced accusations of clinging to power.
The amnesty law sparked heated debate. It forgave many protest-related crimes but also protected security forces from facing consequences, which angered those demanding justice for protest victims.
Sonko and PASTEF pushed for a new law to clarify that the amnesty did not cover serious crimes like murder, torture, or cruel treatment. On April 23rd, the Constitutional Council weighed in, ruling that such clarification was unnecessary. The original law already excluded those grave offenses, in line with Senegal’s international human rights commitments.
The Council also rejected any further challenges to the amnesty for lesser protest-related acts, solidifying its scope. A judicial order from January 27, had already clarified this position when it dropped all charges against Sonko and Faye, effectively closing the book on their legal battles from the Sall era.
Sonko did not hold back in his remarks. He accused the opposition of twisting the ruling to claim a defeat for PASTEF, calling them “residues” desperate to undermine his party. He argued that they had tried to equate political protests with crimes like murder, a narrative he said was meant to drag PASTEF supporters back into prison. “Tomorrow morning, instead of seeing the moon I’m showing them, they’ll debate the finger I’m pointing with,” Sonko wrote, a line that quickly spread across social media.
Supporters celebrated, sharing images of Faye in traditional attire and Sonko’s words paired with triumphant memes. One user called for swift action on unresolved cases, naming victims like Dj Badji and Fulbert Sambou, whose families still await justice. Another, Seydi, urged caution, suggesting that only those directly responsible for violence should be targeted.
The ruling comes at a critical time for Senegal. Faye’s 2024 election had raised hopes for reform, but the legacy of protest violence remains a challenge. While the Council’s decision ensures that serious crimes can be prosecuted, the broader demand for judicial reform and accountability persists.
For Sonko, this moment is a chance to push forward, balancing the need for justice with the promise of a more inclusive future. As Senegal watches, many question if this victory would pave the way for lasting change, or cause old divisions to resurface. For now, Sonko and his supporters are savoring the clarity, and the hope, that this decision brings.
