Morocco's King Mohammed VI has granted a royal pardon to 18 Senegalese football supporters who were imprisoned following violent incidents during the Africa Cup of Nations final, the Royal Cabinet confirmed on Saturday.

The fans had been sentenced in February to prison terms of up to a year on charges including damaging sporting facilities and committing violence during a sporting event. A number had already served their sentences before the pardon was announced.

The Royal Cabinet framed the decision in terms of both diplomacy and compassion, releasing a formal statement that cited the relationship between the two nations and the timing of a major Islamic occasion.

"Given the long-standing fraternal ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Senegal, and on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, King Mohammed VI has graciously granted, for humanitarian reasons, his royal pardon to Senegalese supporters convicted of offenses committed during Africa Cup of Nations competitions," the statement read.

What happened at the AFCON final

The January final descended into chaos when Senegalese fans attempted to invade the pitch and Senegalese players walked off in protest after a late penalty was awarded to host Morocco. Despite the disorder, Senegal went on to win the match 1-0 and initially lifted the trophy.

In an unprecedented turn of events, however, the Confederation of African Football stripped Senegal of the title and declared Morocco the champions. Senegal subsequently announced it had lodged an appeal against that ruling.

Diplomatic fallout and reconciliation

The final and its turbulent aftermath triggered a diplomatic response from both governments, with senior officials on each side calling for restraint amid a spike in what rights organisations in Morocco described as hate speech targeting sub-Saharan residents. The leaders of both countries pledged to preserve their bilateral relationship and signed a series of agreements aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed the pardon publicly, writing on X that the detained supporters would soon be home.

"Our compatriots detained in Morocco will soon be reunited with their families, thanks to the Royal Grace that His Majesty King Mohammed VI has graciously granted," Faye wrote.

The pardoned fans were expected to depart Morocco immediately following the announcement.

A tradition of royal clemency

Under Morocco's constitution, King Mohammed VI holds the authority to pardon and release prisoners. Each year, on select religious and national holidays, he issues royal pardons that reduce or commute the sentences of thousands of inmates — among them journalists, activists, and individuals convicted of a wide range of offenses.