Senegal president leaves assembly dissolution option open amid Sonko tensions
Senegal president leaves assembly dissolution option open amid Sonko tensions
Bassirou Diomaye Faye has not ruled out dissolving Senegal’s parliament, now led by his former ally Ousmane Sonko, as political tensions escalate. Speaking in New York, the president tied any potential move to the evolving relationship between Senegal’s institutions, with the government preparing to defend its budget measures before a legislature controlled by the Pastef party.
Faye emphasized the constitutional prerogative at his disposal when asked whether he would dissolve the Assembly. “Why exclude an option granted by the constitution?” he responded. While no dissolution has been announced or an election date set, he suggested the decision would depend on “necessity and context,” adding, “When the time comes, based on what we face, we’ll decide.”
Political fallout after Sonko’s removal
The president’s remarks follow a public rift with Ousmane Sonko, his former prime minister, whom he dismissed over “persistent disagreements.” Faye confirmed Sonko’s removal but denied that IMF negotiations alone triggered the split, framing it as a broader loss of confidence.
With Sonko now leading the National Assembly, his party holds significant influence over government proposals, including the upcoming revised finance bill. Faye framed the standoff as a matter of institutional accountability: “Each branch must take responsibility, and the people will judge.”
International implications of Senegal’s political shift
Faye also doubled down on his support for former president Macky Sall’s candidacy for UN Secretary-General, arguing that Sall’s international experience and Africa’s representation at the UN justified the backing. “Who better today to advocate for Africa’s place at the UN than President Macky Sall?” he asked.
While acknowledging the challenges of debt faced under Sall’s administration, Faye positioned the endorsement as a strategic move, though he did not address criticisms of past financial mismanagement.
