Amnesty announced for Khalifa and Karim: Macky launches the war of three
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Loading... - Lisa Cherono
- 30 Sep 2022
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The most important information from yesterday's Council of Ministers was almost drowned out in the press release issued by Minister Abdou Karim Fofana. It is barely said that "addressing the consolidation of national dialogue and political openness, the President of the Republic asks the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, to examine, as soon as possible, the possibilities and the appropriate amnesty scheme for people who have lost their voting rights”. Without citing them by name, the head of state certainly had in mind the cases of Khalifa Sall and Karim Wade. These two political figures lost their elective rights after a court decision which sentenced them to prison terms. Both benefited from a measure of grace which allowed them to recover their freedom,
By asking his Minister of Justice to offer him, in "fast track" mode, an appropriate legal remedy to put these two political actors back in the game, President Macky Sall would aim to calm the political space. But not only. It is true that the amnesty of Karim Wade and Khalifa is an insistent demand of a good part of the Senegalese population, and granting it would ensure Macky Sall a certain tranquility, if not a certain popularity. But it would also make it possible to put the various actors face to face with their responsibilities.
When the bill is ready (as quickly as possible, the Keeper of the Seals has promised), the government will submit it to the National Assembly. We can expect the deputies of Benno to vote for it without complaining, and we do not see those of Wallu, who have made the rehabilitation of their leader in exile, their priesthood, to oppose it. Nor, moreover, the Yaw deputies who are members of Taxawu, Khalifa Sall's movement. We can say that on this one, Macky Sall does not take too much risk, and he is certain to reap only profits.
The situation would have been less rosy for him if it had been a bill that had requested amnesty. If it passed, the Head of State would have found himself in a weak position. And if it were rejected, his adversaries would have a good time crying political relentlessness against political rivals. Read More…
