DAKAR, Senegal (AP) 鈥� President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament on Thursday, paving the way for a snap legislative election six months after he was voted in on an anti-establishment platform.
The new election has to take place within the next 90 days, according to the country鈥檚 constitution. Analysts say that Faye鈥檚 political party, PASTEF, has a high chance of securing a majority, given his popularity and his victory margin in the presidential election.
Faye, 44, to become Africa鈥檚 youngest elected leader, less that two weeks after he was released from prison.
His rise has reflected widespread frustration among Senegal鈥檚 youth with the country鈥檚 direction 鈥� a common sentiment across Africa, which has the world鈥檚 youngest population and a number of leaders accused of clinging to power for decades.
During the presidential campaign, he promised widespread reforms to improve the living standards of ordinary Senegalese, including fighting corruption, reviewing fishing permits for foreign companies, and securing a bigger share from the country鈥檚 natural resources for the population. He was elected with 54% of the votes.
But six months later, these pledges have yet to materialize.
Faye and Ousmane Sonko, the country鈥檚 prime minister and a popular opposition figure who helped catapult Faye to victory, have blamed the parliament. Their political party, PASTEF, does not hold a majority in the assembly, which Faye says has blocked him from executing the promised reforms.
In June, the Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition led by the former President Macky Sall cancelled a budgetary debate in a dispute over whether Sonko was required to issue his government鈥檚 policy roadmap, with Sonko arguing that he was not required to.
The tensions between the government and the parliament are 鈥渦nprecedented,鈥� Alioune Tine, founder of Afrikajom think tank, told The Associated Press. 鈥淚t is all the result of the dysfunctions of the electoral process of the 2024 presidential election,鈥� Tine said.
Faye鈥檚 decision to dissolve the national assembly does not come without risks, Gilles Yabi, political analyst and founder of WATHI think tank, told the AP.
The assembly has until the end of December to vote on the budget for next year, but new legislative elections might make it hard to meet this deadline.
The presidential election in April tested Senegal鈥檚 reputation as a stable democracy in West Africa, a region and attempted coups.
Both Faye and Sonko were released from prison less than two weeks before the vote following a political amnesty announced by outgoing President Macky Sall. Their arrests had sparked months of protests and concerns that Sall despite term limits. Rights groups said dozens were killed and about 1,000 were jailed.
Over 60% of Senegalese are under 25, and 90% work in informal jobs. Senegal has been hit by skyrocketing inflation in recent years, making it difficult for them to get by.
The country is also the major source of irregular migration to Europe, with thousands leaving every year on rickety, artisanal fishing boats in search of economic opportunities.
Thursday鈥檚 announcement came days after one such boat carrying almost 90 people capsized, killing at least 39.
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Associated Press writers Mark Banchereau, Babacar Dione and Wilson McMakin in Dakar contributed to this report.
The Associated Press
