Senegal’s President Announces Dissolution of National Assembly and Sets Date for Legislative Elections

On Thursday, the President of Senegal, Bachir Diomaye Faye, made a significant announcement, declaring the dissolution of the National Assembly of Senegal and scheduling legislative elections for November 17.

In a televised address to the nation, President Faye stated, “I am declaring the dissolution of the National Assembly to ask the sovereign people to provide the institutional means that will allow me to implement the transition at system level and I promised them.”

He emphasized the need for reform, saying, “Today, more than ever, it is time to reformulate the governance system and renew the approach to achieving our national goals in the coming years.”

This development comes after Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko hinted at the dissolution of the National Assembly, which is dominated by the opposition, just a few days ago.

Prime Minister Sonko had previously stated in a video clip circulated on social media in early September, “I can assure you that there will be no censure petition on the horizon on September 12, and on that date, these people have something else to do but be representatives.”

The “Bino Buk Yakar” team, the former ruling coalition with a majority in the National Assembly elected in 2022, had been at odds with the government of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, with the intention of presenting a petition of censure against Sonko’s government.