The Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, Khady Diène Gaye, wanted to send a message of reassurance to the Senegalese public and the families of the 18 supporters currently detained in Morocco for nearly two months.
Speaking at an event organized by the Gender Cell of her department, the minister stated that Senegalese authorities are closely monitoring this case and are making every effort to find a favorable resolution for these citizens. She emphasized that the Senegalese government is fully committed to ensuring these supporters can reunite with their families as soon as possible.
“Rest assured, the government is making every effort for the supporters to return home safely,” said Khady Diène Gaye. These remarks, reported by the Senegalese Press Agency and shared by the newspaper Le Quotidien, aim to ease the growing concerns of the public and the families of the detainees.
To recall, the 18 Senegalese supporters were arrested on January 18 in Morocco due to incidents related to hooliganism. After several weeks of legal proceedings, they were tried by the Rabat High Court on February 19. Following the trial, the Moroccan court sentenced them to prison terms ranging from three months to one year.
However, the case is not closed. According to their lawyer, Patrick Kabou, the Moroccan prosecutor’s office and the civil party have decided to appeal this judicial decision. This new stage of the process has reignited the case and delayed any possibility of a quick resolution.
A new hearing is scheduled before the appeals court on Monday, March 16. This hearing will be crucial for the future of the case, as it could either confirm the sentences imposed in the first instance, modify them, or even open the door to potentially more favorable measures for the supporters involved.
In this context, Senegalese authorities continue their diplomatic and consular efforts to support the detainees and defend their interests. The government assures that it remains in close contact with Moroccan authorities and the legal representatives of the supporters to monitor the progress of the case.
While awaiting the outcome of the appeal hearing, the families of the detainees hold on to hope that their loved ones will return to Senegal soon, while the state promises to keep mobilizing until a final resolution of this sensitive matter.
