President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced Senegal’s parliament dissolution in an address to the nation on Thursday.
"By virtue of my powers and following consultations with the Constitutional Council and the Prime Minister, I have decided to dissolve the parliament," Faye stated. "General elections will be held on November 17 this year."
According to the president, the opposition in the National Assembly (the unicameral parliament) is hindering the country's reform process.
On September 3, the parliament rejected a bill presented by the president aimed at reforming the structure of the state government. Commenting on this move, Faye stated that the deputies demonstrated a significant disconnect between the position of the parliamentary majority and the aspirations of the people, as expressed during the presidential elections in March.
In September 2022, the deputies of the dissolved parliament were sworn in. The majority in the National Assembly was controlled by supporters of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024). The constitution allows the head of state to dissolve the parliament after the first two years of its term.