Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced on Thursday that he has dissolved the National Assembly and scheduled new legislative elections for November 17, 2024.
The decision comes after the opposition-dominated parliament consistently blocked his reform agenda.
In a televised address, Faye explained that the dissolution was necessary to seek the people’s mandate for “the systemic transformation” he promised during his presidential campaign. “The time has come to open a new phase in our term,” the 44-year-old president declared.
Faye, who won the presidency in March 2024, ran on a platform of sovereignty and pan-Africanism, gaining widespread support, particularly among the youth, with three-quarters of Senegal’s population under 35. Despite this, his administration has faced challenges in implementing reforms due to the lack of a parliamentary majority.
Under the constitution, Faye had the authority to dissolve parliament as of September 12, which he has now done to pave the way for elections that could grant him the majority needed to advance his policy agenda.
“The hope of collaboration with the parliamentary majority was an illusion,” Faye said. He accused the opposition of turning its back on the people and obstructing progress, particularly pointing to mismanagement of public finances under former president Macky Sall. Faye promised that a report by Senegal’s court of auditors on these financial issues would soon be made public.
