Senegal’s National Assembly has rejected a proposal to charge former President Macky Sall with high treason, dealing a major setback to efforts to hold him accountable for alleged financial mismanagement.
The motion, introduced by Guy Marius Sagna, a member of the ruling PASTEF party, accused Sall of mismanaging public funds by allegedly concealing a US$7 billion debt and securing loans outside approved budgetary procedures.
However, lawmakers ruled the motion inadmissible on the grounds of a “procedural flaw” or vice de forme effectively halting its progress to the Haute Cour de Justice, the constitutional court empowered to try former presidents.
The decision offers Sall, who led Senegal from 2012 to 2024, a temporary reprieve amid mounting criticism of his administration’s handling of state finances.
Political observers say the ruling highlights the influence of procedural rules in shaping political accountability in Senegal, suggesting that future attempts to challenge Sall could depend as much on legal formality as on substantive evidence.
It remains uncertain whether lawmakers will reintroduce a revised motion or how the development might impact Sall’s political reputation both domestically and internationally.
