King Mohammed VI of Morocco has granted a royal pardon to 18 Senegalese football supporters jailed after violence at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, in what authorities described as a humanitarian gesture ahead of Eid al-Adha.
The announcement was made in an official statement from the Moroccan royal palace, which said the decision reflected the “age-old fraternal ties” between Morocco and Senegal as Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid.
The Senegalese supporters had been arrested following clashes and disturbances that erupted around the AFCON final earlier this year in Rabat, with several receiving prison sentences linked to public disorder and vandalism.
Moroccan officials said the royal pardon was issued on humanitarian grounds and as part of traditional clemency measures often granted during important religious celebrations.
The decision has been warmly welcomed in Senegal, where supporters and civic groups praised the move as a symbol of African unity, compassion and reconciliation during the Eid season.
Several of the pardoned supporters are now expected to return home to Senegal in the coming days after months in detention.
The gesture also reinforces the close diplomatic and cultural relationship between Morocco and Senegal, two nations that have maintained strong political and religious ties for decades.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco, attracted huge crowds and widespread praise for its organization, although isolated incidents of crowd violence occurred during the closing stages of the tournament.