Fatshimetrie is a major event currently taking place in the Republic of Senegal. Indeed, Senegalese people are going to the polls this Sunday, November 17, to elect members of the National Assembly. This legislative election is of great importance since it will determine the ability of the newly elected president to implement ambitious reforms.
Senegalese voters are now tasked with choosing among 165 candidates running for a seat in the National Assembly. Currently, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s party does not have a majority of seats, making this election crucial for the implementation of his policy.
No fewer than 41 lists of candidates are in the running, with four major coalitions dominating the race. Former President Macky Sall leads the opposition platform Takku Wallu, and his political weight is undeniable in this tight electoral context.
President Faye, elected last March on an anti-establishment platform, is facing obstacles in implementing the reforms promised during his election campaign. These reforms include the fight against corruption, the revision of fishing permits granted to foreign companies, and the guarantee of a larger share of the country’s natural resources for the population.
His Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko was absent during the debates in the assembly, where the opposition threatened to vote for a motion of censure. The election campaign ended on Friday in a tense climate, with sporadic clashes between supporters of different political parties. Clashes have broken out between supporters in central Senegal in recent weeks, and the headquarters of an opposition party was set on fire in Dakar, according to the Interior Ministry.
On Tuesday, Ousmane Sonko, the prime minister and a popular opposition figure who played a key role in Faye’s victory, condemned attacks on supporters of his PASTEF party in Dakar and other cities. He called for restraint and peace, while hinting at a possible response proportionate to the attacks.
Last month, Sonko’s vehicle was pelted with stones during clashes between his supporters and unidentified attackers while he was campaigning in Koungueul, in the center of the country. The leader of an allied party, former minister Malick Gackou, was injured in the arm in the incidents, according to local media.
In September, President Faye dissolved the opposition-led parliament, paving the way for early legislative elections. This crucial event of Fatshimetrie determines not only the composition of the national assembly, but also the political future of Senegal and the implementation of the reforms promised during the electoral campaign.The results of this legislative election will have a lasting impact on the political direction of the country and the president’s ability to achieve his ambitions for change and progress for the Senegalese nation.