Ousmane Sonko urges Morocco to consider pardon or prisoner transfer for detained Senegalese fans

Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has publicly addressed the case of 18 Senegalese supporters sentenced to prison in Morocco, outlining what he described as two clear paths to resolve the escalating diplomatic tension.

Speaking before the National Assembly of Senegal, Sonko disclosed that his government had exhausted diplomatic channels in an effort to defuse the crisis. He revealed that direct communication had taken place between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Mohammed VI, as well as between himself and his Moroccan counterpart.

Despite those efforts, the Senegalese leader lamented that what began as “football passion” had evolved into a legal standoff.

“We believe that this issue has gone beyond the purely sporting sphere, and we must say so with all responsibility,” Sonko stated.

He added, “It is unfortunate, especially since it involves two countries with strong historical ties. Passion and sport often go hand in hand, but this situation could have been handled differently.”

To support his argument, Sonko referenced an incident at the Olympic Games involving Morocco’s national team, known as the Atlas Lions, during a match against Argentina national football team. According to him, Moroccan fans stormed the pitch, leading to a suspension of the game for more than two hours before it resumed behind closed doors.

“Recently, during the Olympic Games, Moroccan fans stormed a stadium, causing a match to be suspended for more than two hours. The match was then resumed behind closed doors. This shows that in sports, incidents can happen, and they can be dealt with appropriately,” Sonko argued.

He pointed out that the episode did not result in judicial rulings against those involved, suggesting that football related disturbances can sometimes be managed outside criminal courts.

Amid growing debate over the fairness of the trial, Sonko disclosed that Senegal’s justice minister is reviewing all available legal avenues, including the possibility of lodging an appeal against the verdicts handed down in Morocco.

The Prime Minister ultimately presented Moroccan authorities with what he described as two options. The first is the granting of a comprehensive royal pardon for the detained fans, a move Sonko said he would welcome. The second is the activation of bilateral prisoner transfer agreements, allowing the supporters to return to Senegal to serve their sentences closer to their families.

“If the Moroccan authorities decide to grant a pardon, we will welcome that,” Sonko concluded.

“Otherwise, there are bilateral agreements between our two countries that allow us to request the return of our citizens so that they can serve their sentences in Senegal.”