Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye faces parliamentary gridlock as Ousmane Sonko's Pastef dominates assembly

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s administration, which came to power after the 2024 election, initially enjoyed a strong Pastef majority in the National Assembly—130 of the 165 seats. After the dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko in May, most Pastef deputies shifted loyalty to Sonko, leaving the president without a reliable parliamentary base. The loss of majority threatens the passage of the government’s budget, economic reforms and other legislative initiatives, creating a risk of institutional deadlock.

While the Senegalese constitution still grants the president extensive diplomatic, security and institutional powers, the current co‑habitation with a hostile assembly could force the executive to negotiate on a case‑by‑case basis. The situation is compounded by an S&P Global Ratings warning that Senegal needs a new IMF program to maintain market confidence, and a high‑profile defamation case involving party figure Oustaz Assane Touré, underscoring broader political and legal tensions.

The crisis highlights the enduring influence of Ousmane Sonko within Pastef, as the party reaffirmed his leadership at its recent congress, securing a six‑year mandate and consolidating his hold over the party’s parliamentary bloc.