Bassirou Diomaye Faye has appealed to Mohammed VI to grant a royal pardon to Senegalese supporters jailed following violent incidents at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) final.
Speaking at a press conference, President Faye said he had written directly to the Moroccan monarch, both to congratulate him on hosting the tournament and to request clemency for the detained fans. “I asked the King of Morocco for forgiveness for our supporters,” he explained.
“We tried every possible way, through courts, diplomacy, even religious channels like the Tijaniyya order, but nothing worked,” Faye added.
“If all of this changes nothing, what else can be done? If there is another way, let us be told.”
The appeal follows a ruling by the Rabat Court of Appeal, which upheld convictions against 18 Senegalese supporters arrested during unrest surrounding the final in January. Judges confirmed prison sentences ranging from three months to one year, along with financial penalties, rejecting defence requests to review additional video evidence.
Lawyers representing the accused had argued that the footage was necessary to verify identities and challenge the prosecution’s case. However, the court ruled that the incidents were sufficiently documented and that the evidence presented was adequate to support the convictions.
Prosecutors said the violence including rioting, pitch invasion and attacks on security personnel was clearly visible and warranted firm punishment. Nine supporters received one-year prison terms and fines of 5,000 Moroccan dirhams (approximately $500), while six others were sentenced to six months with lesser fines. Three individuals were given three-month sentences.
A French national of Algerian origin was also sentenced to three months in prison after being found guilty of throwing a bottle during the disturbances.
The arrests followed clashes in Rabat during the final between Morocco and Senegal. In the aftermath, Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) awarded the title to Morocco after Senegal’s team walked off, ruling that the action breached tournament regulations.
The legal proceedings against the supporters have since drawn attention, with defence lawyer Patrick Kabo arguing that the wrong individuals had been punished. “Mistakes were made, and those truly responsible are in Senegal, not here,” he said.
Some of the accused have denied involvement in the violence, claiming they entered the pitch either under pressure or while attempting to avoid projectiles during the chaos.
President Faye’s intervention signals an escalation in diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation, with the Senegalese government now seeking a humanitarian solution after legal avenues appear to have been exhausted.
