In a statement signed by its Party Leader and Secretary General, Essa Mbaye Faal, APP-Sobeyaa described the President’s move as a lawful and welcome use of the Prerogative of Mercy, emphasising that clemency remains an important constitutional instrument within a democratic republic.
“The exercise of mercy, when applied judiciously, reinforces rehabilitation, restores hope, and affirms that justice must always leave room for reform,” the statement noted.
The party acknowledged that a correctional system that produces transformed citizens deserves recognition, adding that where inmates have demonstrated genuine rehabilitation, the state is justified in facilitating their reintegration into society.
However, APP-Sobeyaa raised concern over what it described as a notable omission in the list of beneficiaries. According to the announcement, all fifty-six inmates granted pardon were male, with no female inmate included.
While recognising that the Constitution grants the President discretionary authority in matters of clemency, the party stressed that such discretion operates within a broader framework of constitutional equality and non-discrimination, as provided for under Section 33 of the Constitution.
“National unity requires consistency with constitutional equality,” the statement read. “If female inmates were ineligible based on objective criteria, the public deserves clarity. If proportional representation explains the outcome, that too should be transparently communicated.”
APP-Sobeyaa warned that the absence of female beneficiaries, if left unexplained, risks creating the perception that executive mercy is not applied evenly across genders.
The party further highlighted that women in custody often present distinct humanitarian considerations, including caregiving responsibilities, economic vulnerability, and in some cases, histories of abuse preceding incarceration. It noted that many jurisdictions now incorporate gender-responsive frameworks into clemency reviews to ensure executive discretion does not unintentionally replicate systemic imbalances.
“This is not a criticism of mercy granted,” the statement clarified. “It is a call for mercy administered with visible equity.”
To strengthen public confidence in the clemency process, APP-Sobeyaa proposed the publication of general clemency criteria, the incorporation of gender-sensitive assessments within advisory mechanisms, periodic public reporting on the demographic distribution of beneficiaries, and the strengthening of reintegration programmes for both male and female former inmates.
The party concluded that governance is strongest when executive authority is exercised with both compassion and fairness.
“The Prerogative of Mercy is a constitutional power vested in one office, but it belongs morally to the entire Republic,” the statement said. “A republic committed to equality must ensure that justice and mercy are never perceived as selective.”
