Electoral register divides Senegal ahead of early legislative elections
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on SeneNews
In Senegal, the possible dissolution of the National Assembly from 2 December 2026 is dividing experts over preparations for early legislative elections, particularly the electoral register and first-time voters. Article 87 of the Constitution sets out the procedure, according to SeneNews.
The prospect of the dissolution of the Senegalese National Assembly from 2 December 2026 has revived debate over the electoral register, particularly the registration of first-time voters. Electoral expert Mamadou Seck and political scientist Djibril Diop have put forward contrasting analyses of preparations for early legislative elections, SeneNews reports.
Article 87 of the Constitution allows the president of the Republic to dissolve the National Assembly after two years of the legislature, following the opinions of the prime minister and the president of the parliamentary institution. These opinions are advisory, according to Mamadou Seck, while publication of the decree immediately ends Assembly meetings and renders bills under consideration void.
A dissolution on 2 December would leave five Sundays on which to organise early legislative elections, according to SeneNews. The term of outgoing MPs legally continues until the results of the elections of their successors are announced.
The prospect of dissolution comes after recent tensions over the functioning of the Assembly and the budget. The Senegalese prime minister had raised the possibility of constitutional appeals over the Pastef deadlock on 25 October, while Abdourahmane Sarr had proposed 2 December for dissolving the Assembly on 30 October. The debate over dissolution was further revived by Madiambal Diagne on 3 November.
