Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dissolved the opposition-led National Assembly and set snap elections for November 17, 2024. This move comes six months after Faye took office, following growing tensions between his administration and the assembly, which blocked key reforms, including discussions on the budget law and the dissolution of wasteful state institutions.

Faye, who won the March presidential election with 54 percent of the vote, cited the legislative body’s refusal to cooperate as a significant hindrance to his reform agenda. In a televised address on September 12, Faye said, “I dissolve the National Assembly to ask the sovereign people for the institutional means to bring about the systemic transformation that I have promised to deliver.”

The opposition, led by the Benno Bokk Yaakar (BBY) coalition, condemned the dissolution, accusing Faye of convening the legislative session under false pretenses. They labeled the president’s actions as “perjury,” escalating the political standoff between the two factions.

Faye’s party, PASTEF, is expected to perform well in the upcoming elections, largely due to the president’s popularity and his anti-establishment platform. Observers believe the election will be crucial in determining whether Faye can secure a legislative majority to implement his ambitious reforms.

The dissolution aims to clarify the political landscape and create a stable majority for governance, with Faye focused on delivering the systemic changes he promised during his campaign.