In a significant development amidst political turmoil, a group of activists who had been detained for several months on various charges related to political activities were temporarily released on Thursday, as confirmed by one of their lawyers to the Senegalese news agency APS.
The release was initiated by the prosecutor, who had previously requested their detention. Moussa Sarr, one of the lawyers representing twenty-five of the released prisoners, noted that they included members of the dissolved Pastef party and prominent activists in the public sphere.
This move follows unrest triggered by the announcement of the postponement of the presidential election, originally scheduled for February 25th. President Macky Sall had recently committed to implementing “a pragmatic process of appeasement and reconciliation to preserve peace and consolidate the stability of the nation.”
President Sall’s decision to postpone the election came on February 3rd, citing corruption suspicions involving judges who had examined the 93 application files, of which 20 were deemed admissible. In a national address, he called for an open national dialogue to ensure a free, transparent, and inclusive election in a peaceful and reconciled Senegal.
Subsequently, the National Assembly voted to postpone the presidential election to December 15th, a move that was met with protest from some Members of Parliament, leading to their expulsion from the Chamber by the National Gendarmerie.
These events underscore the volatile political climate in Senegal as the country navigates through challenges to ensure a fair and democratic electoral process.
