Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dissolved the opposition-led national assembly on Thursday, setting the stage for early legislative elections on Nov. 17.
In a brief evening address, Faye, who assumed office in April, cited difficulties working with the assembly after it refused to discuss the budget law and opposed dissolving inefficient state institutions.
“I dissolve the national assembly to request from the people the institutional means to implement the systemic changes I promised,” Faye said, announcing the election date.
This decision came two years after the current parliament’s term began, fulfilling the minimum period required before new elections.
It follows Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s earlier pledge to dissolve the assembly and investigate government corruption. Faye, who won a landslide victory in March, campaigned on anti-corruption and economic reform.
Last month, Senegal’s new government established a commission to review all existing oil and gas contracts. Prime Minister Sonko has pledged to renegotiate these agreements in favor of national interests, though no timeline for the review has been provided.
In June, Senegal became an oil producer when Australia’s Woodside Energy began output from the Sangomar oil and gas field.
Additionally, gas production is expected to commence by year-end at the BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project.
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