The National Assembly adopted on Tuesday, by a large majority with 129 votes in favour, 109 against and 20 abstentions, the amnesty interpretative law, a bill aimed at clarifying and clarifying certain ambiguities surrounding the application of the amnesty law voted on 13 March 2024. This legislative text, which had provoked a number of debates in the political class and civil society, finally found a broad consensus among the deputies, thus underlining a crucial moment in the legislation of the country. The amnesty bill, voted for the first time in March 2024, had the objective of reconciling the nation, by offering a form of judicial pardon to individuals convicted for acts related to the contestation and protests of March 2021. However, the application of this law has been marked by areas of uncertainty, in particular concerning its scope of application, the criteria of beneficiaries, and the amnesty procedures. Some voices have been raised to underline that some offenders, despite the good intentions of the law, could abuse it or derive disproportionate benefits. It is in this context that the deputy Amadou BA n°2 has presented an interpretative bill, to remove any legal ambiguity and ensure a more transparent and strict implementation. One of the central points of the text adopted today lies in the more precise definition of the ‘offenses’ covered by the amnesty. In addition, the new law clarifies the conditions under which amnesty may be granted, in particular as regards persons convicted of serious crimes, the modalities of rehabilitation and the exceptions which make it possible to limit its application. The text has also been enriched with provisions aimed at enhancing the transparency of the amnesty process, by introducing an independent control to verify that only eligible individuals benefit from this measure.
Law on amnesty: the interpretative law is adopted by a majority of the deputies
