Senegal President Pardons Khalifa Sall, Ex-Mayor Of Dakar

Senegal’s President Macky Sall has pardoned the former mayor of  Dakar, and political rival Khalifa Sall, 63, who had been sentenced to prison for 5 years in August 2018 for fraudulent use of public funds, the presidency announced Sunday.

The conviction subsequently barred the former mayor from standing in February’s presidential elections.

Macky Sall won last elections by 58%, which critics accused him of making up charges against the former major, in order for him to win a second 5-year term in office.  

The current mayor of Dakar, Sowam Wardini, reportedly thanked the president for the pardon.

“Khalifa Sall is returning to his family today,” the mayor said.

Khalifa Sall’s lawyer, Ousseynou Fall, said the fight was “not over” and said his client was “arbitrarily imprisoned”.

“We want an amnesty,” he said.