The opposition-dominated parliament in Senegal was dissolved, according to a Thursday announcement by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who also scheduled fresh parliamentary elections for November 17.
“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,” Faye said on national television.
“Today, more than ever, the time has come to open a new phase in our term,” the 44-year-old head of state said.
On the platform of bringing about significant change for the West African country, Faye easily won the presidency in March 2024.
Raising hopes for youth in a nation where three-quarters of the population is under 35, Faye ran on a platform of sovereignty and socialist pan-Africanism alongside his prime minister, Ousmane Sonko.
However, the absence of a majority in parliament has hindered government action thus far.
Senegal’s constitution gives Faye the authority to dissolve the opposition-dominated legislature on September 12 and hold early parliamentary elections, which might provide him the support he needs to carry out his plan.
In his address, Faye said “the pledge of a frank collaboration with the parliamentary majority.. was an illusion”.
“It has decided to turn its back on the people to pursue its cult of obstruction, thereby blocking the project for which I was elected,” he said.
He cited, in particular, the management of public finances under his predecessor Macky Sall, alleging “wilfully hidden excesses” of spending.He added that a report approved by Senegal’s court of auditors would soon be published.
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