SENEGAL’S political landscape is set for a shake-up as the two former ruling parties of ex-presidents Macky Sall and Abdoulaye Wade have joined forces ahead of a snap legislative election on November 17. The Alliance for the Republic (APR), led by Sall, and Wade’s Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), announced their coalition on Sunday, in a move that may challenge the authority of the recently elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
In the outgoing National Assembly, the two parties held a combined 106 out of 165 seats, making this new alliance a potential obstacle to Faye’s reform agenda. Since taking office in April, President Faye, along with his outspoken Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has launched financial audits of the previous administration, imposed travel bans on some former officials, and filled key government positions with members of his own Pastef party, causing tension with former allies.
Faye dissolved the National Assembly on September 12, just two years into its five-year term, citing difficulties in passing legislation due to opposition resistance. The upcoming election is seen as a crucial test for Faye’s ability to secure a majority for his party and push through his planned reforms.
The APR and PDS, previously rivals, now present a united front, calling their coalition open to additional parties and allies to secure a substantial win in the legislative vote. This collaboration is expected to upset Faye’s plans and could further destabilise the political environment in Senegal, which has been marked by unrest in recent years.
Idrissa Seck, a former prime minister and seasoned presidential contender, is also expected to join the coalition, boosting its prospects in the upcoming election. Meanwhile, Faye’s Pastef party, which previously competed under the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi in 2022, winning 56 seats, will run independently in November.
With a divided political landscape and rising tensions, the November election is likely to have significant implications for Senegal’s future governance and stability.
