Title: Release of political detainees in Senegal: a controversial act of appeasement
Since Thursday February 15, 2024, the Senegalese political scene has been marked by the release of 344 people, out of a total of more than 600 planned to be released, according to Minister of Justice Aïssata Tall Sall. This decision aims to ease tensions in a context where the country is awaiting the date of the presidential election initially set for February 25.
However, these releases raise questions and controversies, particularly regarding the status of those released. While the minister affirms that these are detainees prosecuted for common crimes, the collective of detainees firmly maintains that these are political prisoners, arbitrarily arrested during opposition demonstrations since 2021 .
Lamine Bara Diop, coordinator of the detainees’ collective, better known as Diop Taïf, highlights the injustice suffered by these individuals and calls for their compensation. According to him, these people have seen their futures shattered, their jobs lost, and their lives disrupted by abusive arrests, carried out with the aim of repressing political opposition. He insists on the need to do justice to these detainees, who spent months in preventive detention without trial or were acquitted after a trial.
The collective of detainees plans to sue the State by demanding compensation for all those affected by these unjust arrests. An approach which underlines the importance of the protection of fundamental rights and fair justice in a tense political context.
These recent events highlight the issues at stake in the release of political detainees in Senegal, as well as the persistent challenges in respecting human rights and the rule of law. As the country prepares for a crucial election, ensuring transparency, fairness and respect for individual freedoms is essential to preserve the country’s stability and democracy.