SENEGAL’S parliament has approved amendments to a law passed under former president Macky Sall that granted amnesty for offences committed during deadly opposition protests.

The law was passed in March 2024, shortly before the last presidential election, and granted amnesty for offences by both security forces and protesters during violent demonstrations between 2021 and 2024. 

Amnesty International said that at least 65 people had been killed during the clashes.

Amnesty, other human rights groups and lawyers criticised the law because it prevented any prosecution of the sponsors and perpetrators of the violence.

On Wednesday, Senegalese legislators adopted an amendment to the law removing amnesty for crimes including murder, torture and forced disappearance. 

The protests were triggered by concerns that Mr Sall was attempting to muzzle his opponents and seek a third term in office despite this being barred by the constitution. 

Mr Sall denied trying to stay in power.

The protests saw the arrests in 2023 of top opposition figures Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko on charges that were widely seen as politically motivated.

Both were released in March 2024 after the amnesty law took effect. 

Mr Faye won the presidency after Mr Sonko gave him his backing.