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Rabat – On Thursday, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced the dissolution of the National Assembly, setting the stage for early parliamentary elections in November.
The decision, delivered in a televised address, follows months of political infighting and institutional gridlock that have hampered government efforts to enact key reforms.
“By virtue of the powers conferred upon me by Article 87 of the Constitution, and after consulting the Constitutional Council, the Prime Minister, and the President of the National Assembly on the appropriate date, I hereby dissolve the National Assembly,” said Faye.
He went on to confirm that the elections will take place on Sunday, November 17.
The president’s move comes amid growing tensions between the executive branch and the parliamentary majority, led by the Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY) coalition.
These tensions escalated after lawmakers rejected a proposed constitutional revision aimed at abolishing two high-profile governmental bodies: the Haut Conseil des Collectivités Territoriales (HCCT) and the Conseil Économique, Social et Environnemental (CESE).
“I am dissolving the National Assembly to ask the sovereign people for the institutional means to bring about the systemic transformation I promised them,” Faye stated, defending his decision as necessary for advancing his reform agenda.
Political crisis boils over
The dissolution comes at a time of mounting political discord, as the Senegalese president faces significant opposition in parliament, where the majority has repeatedly blocked his initiatives.
Most recently, the legislative body rejected a constitutional reform bill that Faye had championed as part of his broader plan to streamline the government and cut costs.
“Unfortunately, the parliamentary majority has decided to oppose the will of the Senegalese people, which was clearly expressed on the evening of March 24, 2024,” Faye said, referencing his landslide victory in the presidential election earlier this year.
He criticized lawmakers for refusing to hold a mandatory budgetary debate in June, calling the move a violation of Senegalese law that damaged the country’s standing in the eyes of international institutions.
Faye further accused the assembly of overstepping its authority by attempting to dictate the timeline for the prime minister’s general policy address.
At the heart of the dispute is Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, whose upcoming policy statement had been scheduled for Friday, September 13.
The prime minister has faced mounting pressure from opposition lawmakers, who have threatened to introduce a motion of censure to topple his government.
The president condemned the parliament’s actions, which he argued were aimed at undermining his administration’s ability to function.
“By rejecting the constitutional revision on August 29, the majority sought to block reforms that are vital for our public finances, which urgently require rationalization,” Faye added, emphasizing the need to reduce public spending by eliminating the HCCT and CESE.
Paving the way for new elections
Faye, who was elected on a platform of sweeping reforms and a promise to break with past administrations, is hoping that early elections will deliver him a stronger mandate.
The current parliamentary majority, led by BBY, has consistently opposed many of his key initiatives, resulting in a political stalemate that has heightened fears of an institutional crisis.
The president’s decision to dissolve parliament and call for new elections is allowed under Senegalese law, which mandates that elections must be held within 60 to 90 days following a dissolution.
With just over two months until the polls, Senegal’s political landscape is entering a crucial phase, as both Faye’s supporters and the opposition prepare for what could be a defining moment in the country’s political trajectory.
