Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Former Dakar mayor Khalifa Sall and the Taxawu Senegaal coalition have accused Senegalese authorities of displaying a “double standard” in handling legal cases, alleging that justice is being selectively applied to shield political allies while swiftly prosecuting opponents. This comes in the wake of the unresolved arson attack on their headquarters, which contrasts sharply with the expedited sentencing of 81 bodyguards from the Sàmm Sa Kàddu coalition.

In a press release issued Wednesday, January 8, Khalifa Sall and Taxawu Senegaal denounced the perceived inaction on the arson case, stating that it erodes public trust in the country’s institutions. “Nothing justifies that criminals, identifiable and linked to an act as cowardly and abject as the arson of our headquarters, can benefit from scandalous impunity, while other cases, less serious and less documented, are handled with exemplary promptness,” the statement read.

Demand for Accountability

The coalition emphasized that the gendarmerie must act without bias or political interference, urging a thorough investigation into the attack. “At the gendarmerie, Taxawu Senegaal recalls that its mission is to investigate crimes and track down the perpetrators, without distinction or favoritism. For the honor of her office and the integrity of our judicial system, she has no right to fail or to give in to political pressures that tarnish the republican ideal,” the statement added.

Two months after the arson, the coalition expressed frustration over the lack of tangible progress, despite investigators reportedly possessing video evidence of the attackers and recordings of explicit threats made by a senior member of the ruling party. “This blatant inequality in the processing of legal files is a blow to the principles of equity and justice that should govern the functioning of a Republic,” they said.

Contrasts in Judicial Action

Taxawu Senegaal drew a sharp comparison between the stalled investigation into the arson and the swift legal proceedings against Sàmm Sa Kàddu bodyguards. The bodyguards were arrested, tried, and convicted in a matter of weeks following incidents during the legislative election campaign on November 17. Taxawu Senegaal described the verdict against the bodyguards as “unjust” and pointed to it as an example of bias in the judicial system.

“This singular treatment, unfortunately biased, contrasts, in all respects, with the state of inertia in which the investigation into the arson of our headquarters is stagnating,” the coalition remarked.

The coalition reiterated its determination to pursue justice in the arson case. “Taxawu Senegaal will only have respite when the perpetrators of this heinous act have been identified, arrested, and condemned with the rigor imposed by the laws of our country,” the statement read.

Additionally, the coalition welcomed the release of the young bodyguards who had been detained for two months in Saint-Louis prison and expressed solidarity with those still incarcerated, as well as their families.