Four people have become the first to face criminal charges linked to Senegal’s political unrest between 2021 and 2024.
The charges include crimes against humanity, complicity and torture, according to AFP, which cited lawyers representing the accused.
The proceedings relate to a complaint filed by Pape Abdoulaye Toure. He alleges that he was unlawfully detained, abducted, tortured and subjected to violence in June 2023.
The accused have not been convicted, and lawyers for some of them deny the allegations.
First charges over Senegal political unrest
Senegal experienced repeated political demonstrations between 2021 and 2024 during the presidency of Macky Sall.
The unrest came amid a political confrontation involving Sall and opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
Protesters accused Sall’s government of trying to restrict political opponents and raised concerns that he could seek to remain in power beyond his mandate. Sall denied those claims.
The arrest of Sonko in 2023 further increased political tensions.
Dozens of people were killed during demonstrations over the three-year period.
Four people face serious charges
Ameth Tidiane Cisse, a security chief at the Dakar University Works Centre, and security officer Djibril Gaye face charges of criminal conspiracy, crimes against humanity and torture, their lawyer Taha Cisse told AFP.
Gaye was remanded in custody, while Cisse was placed under judicial supervision, according to their lawyer.
Two other defendants, Amadou Guindo Traore and Djibril Diaw, were charged with complicity in crimes against humanity in connection with Toure’s allegations.
Their lawyer, Yaya Dia, told AFP that his clients reject the accusations and deny any involvement in the alleged acts.
Charges raise questions over amnesty law
The case is significant because Senegal adopted an amnesty law covering political violence from the period.
According to AFP, the crimes against humanity charges provide a legal route for the proceedings despite that amnesty law.
The law was adopted during the final weeks of Sall’s presidency as part of efforts to reduce political tensions.
Senegal’s current government has pledged to pursue justice for victims of the unrest.
Lawyers and Amnesty respond
French lawyer Juan Branco, who represents Toure, described the proceedings as a delayed but important step towards a possible trial.
Amnesty International’s Senegal branch also welcomed the proceedings while saying it would continue to follow the cases and support victims, AFP reported.
However, the criminal proceedings remain ongoing, and the charges do not amount to convictions.
Dozens killed during Senegal protests
At least 65 people were killed during opposition demonstrations between March 2021 and February 2024, according to a tally compiled by a group of journalists and scientists and cited by AFP.
Many others were injured or detained.
Officials in Senegal’s current government have cited a higher death toll of more than 80, although that figure differs from the independent tally.
The new charges mark the first criminal proceedings of their kind linked to Senegal’s political unrest between 2021 and 2024.