Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye were released from prison this Thursday, March 14th. The release come following the promulgation, by the President of the Republic, Macky Sall, of the law on general amnesty adopted a few days ago by the majority of deputies of the National Assembly.

The said legislative text erased ‘all acts likely to be classified as criminal or correctional offenses committed between February 1, 2021, and February 25, 2024, both in Senegal and abroad, relating to demonstrations or having political motivations.

The mayor of Ziguinchor has been arrested since Friday, July 28, 2023, before being charged three days later by a judge who ordered his detention for ‘incitement to insurrection and conspiracy’ against the State.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a presidential candidate, had been in preventive detention for nearly a year (he was arrested in mid-April 2023 after posting about magistrates. The number 2 of the former Pastef even lost his airtime on national television, as decided by the National Audiovisual Regulation Council (Cnra), which cited the provisions of the Electoral Code. But even while in prison, the candidate of the “Diomaye Président” coalition is among the presidential contenders whose portraits are more visible in the field.”

In a statement, the government said that it had released Sonko and Faye after “taking into account the current social and political context.” The statement also urged all citizens to exercise their rights peacefully and within the bounds of the law.

The release of Sonko and Faye is seen as a positive step towards easing tensions in Senegal. However, many challenges remain, and it remains to be seen whether the government can address the underlying issues that have led to the current crisis.