Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – A controversial bill proposed by Pastef lawmaker Amadou Ba has ignited fierce criticism, with accusations that the ruling party is seeking to shield its militants from accountability while selectively targeting others. The bill, which seeks to reinterpret Amnesty Act No. 2024-09 of March 13, 2024, has been met with sharp rebuke from opposition voices, particularly from Member of Parliament Thierno Alassane Sall, who denounced it as a move to institutionalize impunity.

The bill, instead of repealing the amnesty law as previously promised by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, aims to redefine its scope.

It proposes that acts committed with “exclusively political motivation” during the period between February 1, 2021, and February 25, 2024, be automatically amnestied.

Interestingly, the legislation, however, excludes security forces and individuals unaffiliated with Pastef from similar protections, raising concerns about selective justice.

Amadou Ba’s Bill and the Risk of Perpetuating Impunity: A 360-Degree Turn from Pastef?

Pastef’s initial opposition to the amnesty law—viewing it as a shield for abuses committed under former President Macky Sall—has seemingly shifted. Instead of scrapping the law entirely, as promised during their campaign, the new bill seeks to maintain it while tailoring its application to favor political allies.

In effect, the proposed law stipulates that all references to amnestied offenses be erased from judicial and police records, barring exceptions related to victim compensation claims. Critics argue that this clause effectively erases accountability for serious crimes committed during past unrest.

They further argue that this reversal signals an attempt to solidify control and absolve Pastef militants who engaged in violent demonstrations, including arson and destruction of public property.

By upholding the amnesty law rather than repealing it, Pastef’s move stands in stark contrast to its pre-election rhetoric.

The opposition warns that this maneuver undermines Senegal’s commitment to justice and rule of law, with Thierno Alassane Sall calling on the public to reject what he describes as a “divisive and dangerous precedent.”

Thierno Alassane Sall Exposes the Contradiction and Bias

Thierno Alassane Sall, a staunch opponent of the amnesty law, whose own repeal bill was rejected last week, did not hold back in his criticism. In a scathing statement, he lambasted the Pastef proposal, calling it a “deceptive ploy to enshrine impunity.” He pointed out that while the bill offers a blanket amnesty for those involved in politically motivated acts, it leaves security forces vulnerable to prosecution.

“Let’s say it right away: we are dealing with jokes,” Sall declared. “If Pastef’s text passes, individuals who committed grave offenses, such as setting fire to public buses, can claim political motivation and walk free. Meanwhile, members of the police who were maintaining public order will be left to face justice. This is selective amnesty, nothing else.”

Sall further questioned how political motivation would be determined, arguing that the bill introduces ambiguity that courts would struggle to interpret. “Will judges be expected to probe the intentions of defendants? How do we differentiate between genuine activists and criminals who infiltrated demonstrations? This bill is designed to serve one purpose—shield Pastef militants while punishing everyone else.”

As the debate intensifies in the National Assembly, Senegalese citizens are left to grapple with a pressing question: does the reinterpretation of the amnesty law serve the interests of justice, or is it merely a political tool to absolve a select few?