Government and Politics of Senegal

Government Type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Administrative Divisions

11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Legal System

based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal dual citizenship recognized: no, but Senegalese citizens do not automatically lose their citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another state residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (since 24 March 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO (since 2 April 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 24 March 2024 (next to be held in 2029); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Bassirou Diomaye FAYE elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (PASTEF) 54.99%, Amadou BA (APR) 35.79%, other candidates 9.22%

Legislative Branch

Senegal's legislature is unicameral, consisting of the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale), which currently has 165 seats. Members are elected through a mixed electoral system combining majoritarian and proportional representation to serve five-year terms. The most recent legislative elections were held on July 31, 2022. Voter turnout was notably low. The results reflected a highly competitive political environment, with President Macky Sall's Benno Bokk Yaakaar (BBY) coalition winning 82 seats, a significant reduction from its previous majority. The opposition Yewwi Askan Wi coalition secured 56 seats, while Wallu Senegal won 24 seats, and other parties and independents accounted for the remaining seats. The outcome marked a significant shift in Senegalese legislative politics, as the ruling coalition lost its outright majority for the first time in years, requiring it to negotiate more broadly to pass legislation. Senegal has experienced several structural changes to its legislature in recent decades. A Senate existed alongside the National Assembly for a period but was abolished in 2012 as a cost-cutting measure, returning the parliament to its unicameral form. Presidential and legislative election cycles have at various points been adjusted or realigned, reflecting ongoing political negotiations over the country's electoral calendar.

Judicial Branch

Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals

Political Parties

African Party for Democracy and Socialism or And Jef (also known as PADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general]; African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (also known as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front for Socialism and Democracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE]; Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; National Democratic Rally or RND [Madier DIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]; Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition (a coalition led by the PDS) [Abdoulaye WADE]; Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]; other small

Head of State

President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE

Head of Government

Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president

Constitution

a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001

Independence

4 April 1960 (from France); complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

National Holiday

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MICAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315 consulate(s) general: New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert P. JACKSON embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: [221] 823-4296 FAX: [221] 822-2991

Capital City

Dakar

Location

14 44 N, 17 38 W

Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the Atlantic coast trading settlement of Ndakaaru came to be called "Dakar" by French colonialists

U.S. Embassy Dakar Route des Almadies – B.P. 49 Dakar, Senegal Telephone: (221) 33-879-4000 Emergency after-hours telephone: (221) 33-879-4444. Facsimile: (221) 33-879-4050

Military Branches

Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese National Navy (Marine Senegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal)

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 20 years of age for selective conscript service; service obligation is 2 years; women have been accepted into military service since 2008