Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dissolved the country’s National Assembly, which is dominated by the opposition, and announced fresh legislative elections to be held on November 17. The decision, announced during a televised national address on Thursday, is seen as a major political development in the West African country.
“I have dissolved the National Assembly to ask the sovereign people for the institutional means that would allow me to give substance to the systemic transformation that I promised them,” President Faye said during his announcement.
The dissolution marks a key moment in Senegal’s political landscape, as President Faye seeks to secure greater parliamentary support for his administration’s proposed reforms. He framed the move as necessary for fulfilling the promises of systemic change made during his election campaign.
Political observers anticipate heightened tensions ahead of the legislative elections, especially given the National Assembly’s opposition control, which has posed significant challenges to the president’s agenda.
Senegal has long been considered one of the more stable democracies in Africa, but this development adds a new layer of uncertainty to its political climate. The opposition has yet to respond to the president’s announcement, but the move could trigger intense campaigning in the coming weeks as parties prepare for the November elections.