King Mohammed VI

His Majesty Mohammed VI has granted a royal pardon to 18 Senegalese football supporters convicted in connection with disturbances linked to the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament held between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026.

The decision, announced during Eid Al Adha celebrations, has been widely interpreted as a gesture aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations with Senegal and promoting regional reconciliation.

According to an official statement from the Royal Cabinet, King Mohammed VI approved the clemency measure on Saturday, citing fraternal relations between the two countries and humanitarian considerations.

The supporters had been sentenced in February to prison terms of up to one year after clashes during the tournament final, where some fans attempted to storm the pitch and Senegalese players briefly walked off in protest following a controversial late penalty awarded to the host nation.

Despite Senegal initially securing a 1,0 victory and celebrating what was believed to be a continental title, the Confederation of African Football later annulled the result and awarded the championship to Morocco, prompting a formal appeal from Senegal.

The incident sparked diplomatic concern and heightened tensions, with both governments urging calm amid reports of rising online hostility and hate speech targeting sub-Saharan African communities in Morocco.

Nevertheless, both sides have since reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation and continued engagement, including agreements on trade and investment.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed the pardon in a statement on social media platform X, noting that the affected supporters would soon return home under what he described as a royal act of grace.

The development comes shortly after political changes in Dakar, where President Faye dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, resulting in the dissolution of the government after months of internal tension.

Analysts have also noted that the diplomatic context includes sensitivities surrounding Western Sahara, a territory claimed by Morocco and contested by the Polisario Front.

Under Morocco’s constitutional framework, the King retains the authority to issue pardons, a power frequently exercised during major religious and national occasions to grant clemency to prisoners across various categories.