After more than two decades of waiting, Senegal’s parliament has ratified a bilateral agreement with Morocco allowing detained nationals to serve their sentences in their home country.
Originally signed on December 17, 2004, in Rabat, the agreement establishes a legal framework for prisoner transfers and consular protection between the two nations. Nearly 300 Senegalese prisoners in Morocco could now benefit from this arrangement.
Presented jointly by the Foreign Affairs and Law Committees, the ratification was led by Yassine Fall, Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, who highlighted its importance in strengthening judicial cooperation and protecting Senegalese citizens imprisoned in Morocco.
While lawmakers welcomed the initiative, they also raised concerns about delays in ratification and the conditions of detention in Moroccan prisons. Most Senegalese detainees in Morocco are held for irregular migration, drug trafficking, and other offenses, as the country remains a key transit point for migrants heading to Europe.
The agreement outlines procedures for prisoner transfers, including who can request them, how sentences will be enforced, and cost-sharing arrangements between the two states. Senegal will primarily cover the costs unless otherwise negotiated.
Beyond judicial cooperation, Senegal and Morocco maintain longstanding diplomatic ties dating back to the 1960s, with collaboration spanning security, economy, education, and infrastructure.
