NEWS & POLITICS
Senegal probes deadly protests that occurred during the previous regime
Senegal has launched a judicial inquiry into violent protests that took place between 2021 and 2024, under the regime of President Macky Sall. The hearings were aimed at investigating the events and ensuring accountability for abuses committed during the conflict.
Staff Writer 
DAKAR, Senegal – Oct 4 (Running Africa) - According to the current government, at least 80 people were killed during the clash between police and opposition protesters in major cities, including Dakar.
The protests, which were sparked by the constant harassment and detention of Ousmane Sonko, the then-opposition leader, were among the most violent public reactions in Senegal’s recent history.
Dakar prosecutor Ibrahima Ndoye has been tasked with investigating potential crimes to determine involvement by civilians, law enforcement personnel, and politicians. Alleged victims have been summoned to testify, including Papa Abdoulaye Toure, who spoke out on Friday, October 4, delivering an account of police brutality for over four hours.
Human rights organizations such as Senegal Our Priority (SPN) and the Zero Impunity Initiative (ZII), alongside journalists and several media houses who were victims of the violence, are set to take part in the hearing.
The inquiry follows months of pressure mounted by the public through protests, which called for the fast-tracking of justice for victims of police brutality during the turbulent previous administration. Their calls for justice intensified following the passage of an amnesty law in the final weeks of ex-president Macky Sall's administration, which stalled justice efforts.
However, some legal experts contend that this law cannot apply to crimes such as extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and torture.
During the protests, Sonko's supporters largely clashed with police, triggered by his repeated house arrest and court arraignments on what they claimed were fabricated charges.
