The nine farmers from Soussoung, imprisoned for nearly four months, were released on November 19, 2025, sparking widespread relief within the Collective for the Defense of Soussoung Lands and the local community. The announcement was hailed as a significant victory in a case marked by intense tensions surrounding land management in the area.

In their statement this Thursday, the Collective welcomed this happy outcome and expressed its gratitude to the people and organizations that contributed to the release of the detainees.

The Collective wished to commend Maître Bocounta Diallo’s “unwavering commitment”.

"We pay a strong tribute to Mr. Bocounta Diallo for his unwavering commitment to the people, as well as to Mr. Seydi Gassama, Executive Director of Amnesty International's section in Senegal, for his invaluable legal and logistical support," the statement reads.

The citizens' movement also paid tribute to the solidarity of other groups involved in defending rural lands, notably those of Diack, Tassette and the Collective for the Preservation and Enhancement of Peasant Lands, whose constant involvement has made it possible to maintain pressure and amplify mobilization.

The press was also thanked for relaying information “in real time”, helping to maintain public debate around the situation of the nine farmers.

Beyond expressing gratitude, the Collective emphasizes the determination of the people of Soussoung, who remained mobilized despite the “threats, contempt, and intimidation.” For its members, this release represents a step forward, but vigilance remains essential.

The Collective thus reaffirms its commitment to defending the lands of Soussoug against “all forms of intimidation, land grabbing, or dispossession.” It calls on the inhabitants and the people of the region to unite to preserve social cohesion, which it considers weakened by land tensions and certain initiatives described as having “harmful intentions.”