Al Aminou Lô favours dialogue amid Pastef standoff
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Senenews
Senegalese Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô has for now ruled out putting his government’s responsibility to a vote in the National Assembly and is prioritising dialogue with Pastef. He warned that the executive could use its constitutional powers if the deadlock continues, Senenews reports.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô is prioritising dialogue to resolve the standoff with Pastef, while warning that the executive will use its constitutional powers if efforts to block it continue, Senenews reports. For now, he has ruled out putting his government’s responsibility to a vote in the National Assembly, saying a no-confidence motion during preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) could leave the country without a government.
National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko has said that a no-confidence motion falls within Parliament’s powers and referred to it at a rally in Touba. Under Article 86 of Senegal’s Constitution, a vote can take place only two clear days after the motion is tabled; its adoption requires the government to resign. Pastef has enough seats to pass it.
The warning that constitutional powers could be used refers in particular to the dissolution of the National Assembly, provided for under Article 87 and within the president’s remit after consulting the prime minister and the Assembly president. The crisis follows the parliamentary committee’s rejection of the 2026 revised budget on 25 October, as the government defends its budget choices in the debate on the 2026 revised budget.
