Senegal debates constitutionality of Ousmane Sonko’s parliamentary re‑entry

Former Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko was re‑integrated into the National Assembly after leaving the government, prompting a major constitutional debate. Article 54 of Senegal’s Constitution bars simultaneous membership of the executive and legislature, but it is silent on whether a minister who never took the oath of office can be considered to have an existing parliamentary mandate. Scholars argue that the key question is whether election alone confers a mandate or whether formal installation is required for a suspension to apply.

The controversy has also focused on the competence of the Constitutional Council to adjudicate the issue, with experts noting a lack of clear textual basis for the Council to rule on such cases. The outcome could clarify the balance of power between Senegal’s executive and legislative branches and set a precedent for future incompatibility disputes.