Mamadou Diop Decroix warns of crisis in Senegal's National Assembly

Mamadou Diop Decroix, a former deputy and leader of AJ/PADS, has raised alarms regarding the deteriorating political climate within Senegal’s National Assembly. He describes the institution as being in a state of “net regression” compared to previous legislatures, noting a significant loss of institutional credibility.

Decroix characterizes the current situation as “institutional harassment” directed at President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. He argues that political tensions previously confined to the Executive branch have shifted toward the Parliament, which has become a primary site for political conflict. He suggests that the appointment of Ousmane Sonko to the presidency of the National Assembly has intensified this new configuration.

The situation is further complicated by debates over legal legitimacy, specifically regarding Ousmane Sonko’s reintegration into the National Assembly following a definitive criminal conviction in January 2024. This has sparked discussions concerning the Constitution, the electoral code, and the authority of judicial decisions in relation to parliamentary mandates.