The political framework of Senegal

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders: President: Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (since 2 April 2024)
Prime Minister : Ousmane SONKO (since 2 April 2024)
Next Election Dates: Presidential: March 2029
National Assembly: November 2029
Main Political Parties: Senegal maintains a robust multi-party system, where the number of parties is important. The major political parties in the country are:
- African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF): left-wing populism, pan-Africanism, achieved a significant victory in the November 2024 legislative elections, securing 130 out of 165 seats in the National Assembly
- Takku Wallu Sénégal (TWS): centre to centre-right, coalition formed in September 2024, including former ruling parties such as the Alliance for the Republic (APR) and the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS)
- Jàmm ak Njariñ: centre-left to left-wing, formed after the dissolution of the United in Hope (BBY) coalition in September 2024, this coalition includes the Alliance of the Forces of Progress (AFP) and the Socialist Party of Senegal (PS)
- Sàmm Sa Kàddu (SSK): big tent coalition.

Other parties/coalitions represented in the parliament include: Andu Nawlé, Farlu, Jël Linu Moom, Kiraay ak Natangue, Sénégaal Kese, And Ci Koolutè, And Beesal Sénégal, and Sopi Senegal.
Executive Power: The President of Senegal is the head of state and government, elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The President holds significant executive powers, including serving as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, overseeing the implementation of laws, and managing the country’s administration. The Prime Minister, appointed by the President, serves as the head of government. The Council of Ministers is appointed directly by the President.
Legislative Power: Senegal has a unicameral legislature, with the National Assembly comprising 165 members elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms. Legislative power is shared between the government and the National Assembly. Unlike in some other systems, the President does not have the authority to dissolve the National Assembly. The people of Senegal enjoy considerable political rights and actively participate in the democratic process.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

The world rankings, published annually, measures violations of press freedom worldwide. It reflects the degree of freedom enjoyed by journalists, the media and digital citizens of each country and the means used by states to respect and uphold this freedom. Finally, a note and a position are assigned to each country. To compile this index, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) prepared a questionnaire incorporating the main criteria (44 in total) to assess the situation of press freedom in a given country. This questionnaire was sent to partner organisations,150 RWB correspondents, journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists. It includes every kind of direct attacks against journalists and digital citizens (murders, imprisonment, assault, threats, etc.) or against the media (censorship, confiscation, searches and harassment etc.).

World Rank:: 49/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Definition

Definition:

The Indicator of Political Freedom provides an annual evaluation of the state of freedom in a country as experienced by individuals. The survey measures freedom according to two broad categories: political rights and civil liberties. The ratings process is based on a checklist of 10 political rights questions (on Electoral Process, Political Pluralism and Participation, Functioning of Government) and 15 civil liberties questions (on Freedom of Expression, Belief, Associational and Organizational Rights, Rule of Law, Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights). Scores are awarded to each of these questions on a scale of 0 to 4, where a score of 0 represents the smallest degree and 4 the greatest degree of rights or liberties present. The total score awarded to the political rights and civil liberties checklist determines the political rights and civil liberties rating. Each rating of 1 through 7, with 1 representing the highest and 7 the lowest level of freedom, corresponds to a range of total scores.

Ranking:: Free
Political Freedom:: 3/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House

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