{"id":5402,"date":"2026-04-30T20:26:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T20:26:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/home\/electoral-law-amendment-sparks-division-in-senegal"},"modified":"2026-05-01T02:09:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T02:09:08","slug":"electoral-law-amendment-sparks-division-in-senegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/articles\/electoral-law-amendment-sparks-division-in-senegal","title":{"rendered":"Electoral Law Amendment Sparks Division in Senegal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. <\/strong> <\/span>The Senegalese political scene has entered a phase of sharp polarization after the National Assembly approved amendments to the electoral law, a move that the opposition described as “legislation tailored for one man,” while the ruling majority viewed it as “a correction of historical injustice.” According to a local source, 128 out of 141 deputies present voted in favor of the amendments, with 11 against and two abstaining from voting.<\/p>\n

As reported by Senegalese media, the new text abolishes the principle of “permanent exclusion” from electoral lists, replacing it with a specified period of ineligibility of five years after serving a sentence, while expanding the list of offenses that lead to disqualification to include illicit enrichment, embezzlement, money laundering, financing terrorism, and human trafficking.<\/p>\n

The Interior Minister defended the reform in statements reported by a local source, arguing that the previous framework was “a source of injustice” that excluded candidates based on past incidents or matters that had already been resolved. Spokespeople for the presidency stated that President Bassirou Faye described the reform as “a positive development” that enhances democratic participation.<\/p>\n

The battle centers around Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef party, who was barred from running in the 2024 presidential elections following a final six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 200 million CFA francs for defamation in a case brought against him by former minister Mam Mbaye Niang. In light of this obstacle, Sonko appointed his deputy, Faye, to run for the presidency. When Faye won, Sonko was appointed Prime Minister.<\/p>\n

Observers noted that the amendment does not only concern Sonko but may also rehabilitate other leaders, such as Barthe\u0301le\u0301my Dias, the former mayor of Dakar, who was dismissed in December 2024 following a final two-year prison sentence (one year effective) in a case of “assault leading to death” dating back to 2011.<\/p>\n

“Dictatorship” of the Majority<\/b><\/p>\n

In contrast, the opposition launched a fierce attack. Aissatou Tall Sal, the leader of the opposition group “Takkou Waloo,” announced her intention to challenge the law before the Constitutional Council, describing the text in statements reported by a local source as “extremely dangerous” and a “legislative mix” that undermines the foundations of democracy. Deputy Anta Babacar Ngom called the text “dangerous for the republic,” while Deputy Mahamadou Diouf warned of the “risk of unconstitutionality” due to the regressive nature of the law, according to a local newspaper.<\/p>\n

Deputy Thierno Alassane Sall criticized the resort to parliamentary “urgency,” arguing that the move reveals the majority’s concern about the eligibility of some of its leaders in the future. Major Senegalese newspapers reflected this tension, with one describing it as a “dictatorship of the parliamentary majority,” while another titled its coverage “victory of the majority in the arm-wrestling match under the parliament dome.”<\/p>\n

A Rift in the Ruling Camp<\/b><\/p>\n

Notably, the reform revealed a crack within the presidential camp itself, as the “President” coalition publicly expressed reservations about the text, according to a local source. The coalition’s director, former Prime Minister Aminata Toure\u0301, indicated that the “lack of consultation” with the opposition and the “resort to urgency” raise constitutional concerns, particularly regarding the impact of the regressive law. The coalition called for the scope of the reform to be expanded and for the regressive clause to be removed to avoid its annulment by the Constitutional Council.<\/p>\n

This rift comes amid accumulated tensions between President Faye and his Prime Minister Sonko, with observers suggesting that Sonko may run for the presidency himself in 2029, which explains the Pastef party’s insistence on eliminating any legal obstacles to his candidacy.<\/p>\n

After the Vote<\/b><\/p>\n

The text is now expected to be submitted to the President for enactment, with the possibility of it being challenged before the Constitutional Council either by the opposition or by the President himself. In this context, former minister Mam Mbaye Niang urged the opposition in a radio statement not to file a challenge, asserting that “protecting the constitution is solely the responsibility of President Faye.”<\/p>\n

Senegal, often presented as a model of democracy in West Africa, is entering a delicate phase where personal calculations intertwine with the restructuring of the electoral framework. Between the ruling majority’s narrative of “correcting injustices” and the opposition’s rhetoric of “tailoring laws,” the Constitutional Council remains the arbiter that will determine the contours of the upcoming presidential elections in 2029, along with the future of the fragile alliance between Faye and Sonko.<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Africa<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. The Senegalese political scene has entered a phase of sharp polarization after the National Assembly approved amendments to the electoral law, a move that the opposition described as “legislation tailored for one man,” while the ruling majority viewed it as “a correction of historical injustice.” According to a local source, 128 out of 141 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":5401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[120],"class_list":{"0":"post-5402","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"tag-africa"},"yoast_head":"\nElectoral Law Amendment Sparks Division in Senegal - Africa Press English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"-article-header-tag"> Africa-Press. 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