By Wellington Jopelo
Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, is set to travel to Morocco on Monday following incidents involving Senegalese supporters during the Africa Cup of Nations final that led to multiple arrests. The visit comes as 18 Senegalese fans remain in pre-trial detention in Morocco over allegations linked to crowd trouble at the tournament’s closing match.
The supporters were detained after the AFCON final on January 18, where Senegal defeated host nation Morocco 1–0 after extra time. The group is facing charges related to hooliganism, and their case, which opened at a court in Rabat on Thursday, has been adjourned until January 29.
Officials say Sonko’s visit is aimed at easing tensions and strengthening diplomatic engagement between both countries amid the fallout from the match. The trip will take place under the framework of a long-standing joint commission between Senegal and Morocco, scheduled to hold meetings on Monday and Tuesday.
Senegal and Morocco maintain close ties in areas such as tourism, transport, energy and infrastructure, alongside shared religious and cultural links. As part of the visit, a joint economic forum involving stakeholders from both countries is also expected to take place.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has expressed regret over the incidents surrounding the match, while Sonko has urged calm and called for restraint on all sides. Despite these efforts, rival supporters from both countries have continued to exchange heated remarks on social media since the final.