President Diomaye Faye Set to Dissolve Opposition Dominated Parliament
President Faye and Ousman Sonko
By Haddy Ceesay and Yusef Taylor
Senegal’s President Diomaye Faye has announced his intention to dissolve the opposition dominated Parliament tomorrow 12th September 2024 after the National Assembly rejected his plans to dissolve two institutions.
At the heart of the problem is a standoff between Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousman Sonko and the opposition dominated National Assembly of the Coalition Benno Bok Yakar who are aligned to former President Macky Sall.
During an Extraordinary Session last week 3rd September 2024, Parliament dismissed the Executive’s plans to dissolve two institutions, namely; the High Council of Regional Government lead by Madame Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye, and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council lead by Mr Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo. The Executive responded swiftly the next day by firing both leaders prompting the opposition dominated Parliament to initiate plans to censor Prime Minister Sonko.
Prime Minister Sonko and President Faye took over from former President Macky Sall under the promise of reforming institutions considered too expensive. The two Institutions are reported to be allocated at least $24 Million US. However, the opposition claim the decision is a witch hunt against leaders considered loyal to former President Sall.
If Parliament were to succeed, this would effectively dissolve Cabinet and force President Diomaye Faye to appoint a new Cabinet. In addition to this, it’s reported that Prime Minister Sonko has refused to deliver the General Policy Declaration which is similar to the State of the Nation Address in The Gambia.
Back in July 2024, Prime Minister Sonko was scheduled to deliver the General Policy Declaration but came to a standoff with Parliament after demanding that Parliamentary procedures need to be amended to recognize his declaration.
This standoff intensified last week bringing the two arms of Government in direct conflict and pushing the Executive to seek an interpretation from the Constitutional Council if his Executive could dissolve Parliament. The Constitutional Council ruled that the Executive could dissolve Parliament from tomorrow 12th September 2024 after it had served two years since its establishment.
In another twist of events, it’s been reported that Senegal’s President Diomaye Faye has scheduled 13th September 2024 for Prime Minister Ousman Sonko to deliver his much-anticipated General Policy Declaration which should settle the dispute between the two arms of government.
Senegal is one of Africa’s most stable democracy and many will be watching closely to see if President Diomaye Faye will dissolve Parliament tomorrow or if Prime Minister Sonko will go ahead with his General Policy Declaration before Parliament on Friday.
