Gambiaj.com – (NEW YORK, United States) – Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has forcefully rejected what he described as a “false narrative” surrounding the deadly political unrest that gripped Senegal between 2021 and 2024, insisting his administration acted within its constitutional mandate to prevent the country from descending into chaos.
Speaking during a campaign engagement in the United States as he seeks the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, Sall addressed members of civil society who questioned him over the handling of the crisis, which left dozens dead and triggered widespread destruction.
Sall maintained that the violence was not state-driven repression but rather a coordinated attempt by certain actors to seize power through unlawful means.
“People took advantage of a particular situation to use violence to come to power. That was something I could not accept as President,” he said, arguing that his oath of office obligated him to defend democratic institutions and ensure public safety.
Detailing the scale of the unrest, Sall cited attacks on homes, media organizations, and public infrastructure, including transport systems and university facilities. He said journalists were targeted, judges and political figures threatened, and major national projects vandalized.
According to Sall, the severity of the situation amounted to a direct threat to the survival of the state.
“The Republic was at stake,” he said, adding that authorities acted decisively to restore order and stability. “The State of Senegal confronted the violence and brought back peace, and the justice system has since handled the cases.”
Addressing accusations that his government bore responsibility for the deaths of protesters, Sall dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
“We cannot accuse the President of the Republic, who stands at the apex of the state and acted to defend it, of being responsible for murders. What murders is he responsible for? Did the President order anyone to kill young people? This narrative is contrary to reality,” he asserted.
He added that such claims are entirely out of step with the facts, denouncing what he described as a campaign of slander against him.
“But as a politician, I accept it. It is part of the game. One must have the capacity to withstand these attacks, whether verbal or, at times, even physical. These are the realities of political life, and I am prepared to face them,” he said.
Amnesty Law, An Act of State Responsibility to Preserve Stability
The former president, who governed from 2012 to 2024, also used the platform to underscore his democratic credentials, noting that he voluntarily stepped down after completing two constitutional terms despite having the political leverage to seek a third.
“I chose democracy,” Sall said, pointing to constitutional reforms under his leadership that reduced presidential terms from seven to five years.
A key element of his defense centered on the controversial amnesty law passed before the 2024 elections, which he described as a necessary step to stabilize the country and prevent further division.
Sall acknowledged that the decision faced resistance within his own political camp but said it reflected his responsibility as head of state to prioritize national cohesion over partisan interests.
“The interest of Senegal was not to leave people in prison and a country in flames,” he said. “It was to pass a law of forgiveness that allowed everyone to participate in the elections.”
He noted that opposition figures who benefited from the amnesty were subsequently able to contest the elections and secure victory through democratic means, a development he said demonstrated the resilience of Senegal’s institutions.
He added that the amnesty law effectively closed the chapter on the crisis, though he noted that any future government retains the legal option to revisit the events by repealing the legislation.
Despite the lingering controversy, Sall called for national reconciliation and urged Senegalese to move forward.
“Senegal has shown that it is a mature democracy,” he said. “Many countries would not have recovered from such a situation. We must now turn the page and look to the future.”
Sall’s remarks come as he intensifies his international campaign, seeking to position himself as a statesman capable of leading the United Nations at a time of global uncertainty.
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