"Nous refusons le silence, nous refusons l'oubli" : Des centaines de personnes réclament justice contre les crimes de l'ancien régime
Hundreds of Senegalese protested in Dakar on Saturday despite the rain to demand justice for crimes committed during political violence in the country between 2021 and 2024, which left dozens dead under the former government, journalists noted.
At least 65 people were killed—51 of them by gunfire, the vast majority of them young people—between March 2021 and February 2024 during protests called by the opposition, according to a report compiled by a group of journalists and scientists. Many young people were also injured or detained in traumatic conditions.
Officials in the new authorities put the death toll higher, up to more than 80.
Hundreds of people marched in the pouring rain on Saturday afternoon along one of Dakar's main thoroughfares, chanting "justice for the martyrs," under the watchful eye of law enforcement.
Among the protesters, some wore the green, yellow, and red colors of Senegal. Others held signs reading "We refuse silence, we refuse to be forgotten" or "We demand justice so that the perpetrators, sponsors, and accomplices are held accountable for their actions before the law."
This gathering, which had been authorized, comes a few weeks after the announcement of the opening of an investigation by the Ministry of Justice.
Despite their promise to shed light on these crimes, the new authorities have been facing increased pressure in recent months from the victims' families and members of their own camp, who denounce the slow pace of justice in this case.
Between 2021 and 2024, Senegal was the scene of violent political demonstrations, harshly repressed by the power of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024) and which traumatized part of the country.
An amnesty law covering this violence was adopted in March 2024, in the last weeks of his presidency, in order to ease political tensions.
However, the Constitutional Council ruled last April that these alleged crimes are "imprescriptible" and can be tried.
During the political protests between 2021 and 2024, the presence of armed men dressed in civilian clothes was relayed on social media and denounced by human rights defenders.
These men were accused by the opposition at the time of being "thugs" serving Macky Sall's camp to lend a hand to the police and gendarmes and repress the protesters.
Commentaires (28)
Merci mes frères et soeurs justice rek
Si aujourd'hui des hordes de barbares décidaient de renverser diomaye par la force, elles subiraient la même répression.
On ne décide pas de détruire un Etat par la violence et sans dommage. Nul ne peut se prévaloir de sa propre turpitude
ceux qui sont morts ont perdu leur vie pour rien
ils se sont suiicidés et ils iront en enfer
Sonko va répondre pour ce discours d'incitation à la violence mortelle le jour du procès.
Il a dit "mortel" et il y a eu 85 morts, il ne peut pas être épargné. C'est la raison pour laquelle il traine à ouvrir ce dossier.
Les commanditaires purgeront des peines extrêmement lourdes
That’s all it shows
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