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Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Credit: AFP
Senegal’s President Bassirou Faye dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament on Thursday, paving the way for snap legislative elections within the next 90 days.
The move comes six months after Faye’s election on an anti-establishment platform, which reflected widespread discontent among the country’s youth.
“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,” Diomaye Faye said on national television as reported by AFP.
According to AP, analysts suggest Faye’s political party, PASTEF, is well-positioned to win a majority in the new elections, given his popularity and 54% victory in the April presidential election.
At 44, Faye became Africa’s youngest elected leader, rising to power shortly after his release from prison.
His ascent highlighted frustrations with Senegal’s long-standing leadership, particularly among its youth. Senegal, like much of Africa, has one of the world’s youngest populations and is grappling with growing discontent over issues such as economic inequality and government corruption.
Despite pledges to reform corruption, improve living standards, and secure greater control of natural resources for the population, Faye has struggled to implement these promises.
He blames the parliament, where his party lacks a majority, for blocking key reforms. Tensions between the government and parliament have been mounting, especially after a June dispute that stalled crucial budgetary debates.
Faye’s decision to dissolve the legislature is not without risks, as political analysts warn that the new elections could make it difficult to approve next year’s budget in time.
The situation underscores the fragility of Senegal’s political landscape, which has been tested in recent years by protests and unrest over the previous administration of Macky Sall.
Senegal, a country known for its relative political stability in West Africa, has faced challenges, including inflation and unemployment, which have driven many young people to seek better opportunities abroad, often risking their lives in dangerous migrations.
