Will Senegal’s president dissolve parliament? the question looming over Dakar
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has openly acknowledged his break with former ally Ousmane Sonko and left the door ajar to dissolving the National Assembly, now led by his one-time partner. The burning question: will he actually pull the trigger?
In an interview in New York on Thursday, September 24, Faye declined to rule out using a constitutional power that could reshape Senegal’s political landscape. His government must soon defend its budget choices before an Assembly dominated by the Pastef party—the very party that once propelled him to power.
Asked whether he would consider dissolving the National Assembly, now presided over by Sonko, Faye replied: “Why exclude a prerogative that the Constitution grants?” He stopped short of announcing a dissolution or setting an election date, adding: “Everything depends on necessity and context. When the time comes, based on what we face, we will decide.”
The president’s remarks followed a political rupture he finally named without ambiguity. Questioned about the dismissal of his former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Faye cited “persistent divergences on certain issues.” He explained: “When this breach of trust persisted, I chose another Prime Minister.” He nonetheless dismissed the notion that talks with the International Monetary Fund alone had triggered their split.
The disagreement now plays out in Parliament as well. Sonko took the helm of the National Assembly after leaving government, giving him a central role in scrutinising the executive’s legislative agenda. Asked about a possible rejection of the supplementary budget law by Pastef MPs, Faye defended each institution’s responsibility: “Everyone assumes their responsibilities, and the people arbitrate.”
To accusations of betrayal from some members of his former party, the president countered with his commitment to the presidency. “The only thing I might betray is my oath,” he declared. How the Assembly receives the government’s financial measures will largely determine the next phase of the political confrontation.
Macky Sall at the UN: Faye defends a surprising endorsement
Bassirou Diomaye Faye has reaffirmed his support for his predecessor Macky Sall’s bid for the United Nations secretary-general post. Despite doubts about Sall’s chances, the Senegalese president believes “the game remains open” and says he is in discussions with members who will influence the choice.
To justify this stance, Faye highlights Macky Sall’s international experience and Africa’s representation at the UN. “Who is better placed today to defend a stronger place for Africa than President Macky Sall?” he asked during the interview.
The head of state also invoked the debt issue, central to Senegal’s current financial difficulties. According to him, Macky Sall has “endured the ravages of debt,” an experience that would make him suited to champion reform of the international financial architecture. Faye did not address, in this response, the responsibilities attributed to the previous administration regarding undeclared debt.
