On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, a high-profile swearing-in ceremony marked the formal induction of Ousmane Diagne as the Constitutional Council’s president. His elevation to this pivotal role was formalized through presidential decree 2026-1318, dated July 13, 2026, and signed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

The late Mamadou Badio Camara’s passing in Dakar on April 10, 2025, created a leadership void at the helm of the Constitutional Council. This vacancy persisted for over a year, underscoring the critical need for swift institutional renewal.

With a distinguished career in Senegal’s judicial system, Ousmane Diagne brings extensive experience to his new position. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Attorney General at the Dakar Court of Appeal, the First General Advocate at the Supreme Court, and the Public Prosecutor of the Republic. He also held the esteemed role of Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals in the first government led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko before ascending to the Constitutional Council’s presidency.

The selection of Ousmane Diagne aligns with the constitutional requirements governing the Council, which mandate that its president must be a magistrate with prior experience as either the First President or Attorney General of the Supreme Court, a chamber president, a tenured law professor, a State General Inspector, or an attorney with at least two decades of practice.

The Constitutional Council, now under his leadership, plays a foundational role in safeguarding Senegal’s constitutional framework. Its responsibilities include upholding constitutional integrity, ensuring legislative compliance, and overseeing the fairness and transparency of electoral processes across the nation.