Amnesty International has called on Senegalese authorities to ensure justice for victims of violent repression during protests between 2021 and 2024. The organization criticized the amnesty law, passed on March 6, 2024, which grants immunity to security forces and others involved in politically motivated incidents during this period.
Protests, initially sparked by the 2021 arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, were met with excessive force by security personnel, leading to at least 65 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and 2,000 arrests, according to human rights groups. Amnesty International argues that financial assistance provided to some victims in 2024 and extended in 2025 is insufficient without legal accountability.
Ousmane Sonko, now Prime Minister, pledged during the 2024 legislative elections to repeal the amnesty law. Following his party’s electoral victory, rights groups continue to pressure the government to uphold justice, repeal the law, and ensure accountability for human rights violations.