Former Senegal President Macky Sall to Contest Seat in Parliamentary Elections
Former Senegal President Macky Sall has announced his candidacy for a seat in the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections set for November 17.
Sall, a prominent figure in Senegalese politics, is a member of the Alliance for the Republic (APR) party. The APR has formed a coalition with other opposition groups, including the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) led by former President Abdoulaye Wade. This coalition, known as Takku Wallu Senegal, which translates to “Let’s Unite to Save Senegal” in the local Wolof language, aims to secure a majority in the 165-member assembly.
The decision to hold parliamentary elections came after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dissolved the parliament in September, citing hindrances from the opposition-controlled assembly that impeded the government’s progress. The aim is to elect a new parliament that will work more effectively with the current administration.
Political parties in Senegal are required to submit their candidate lists to the electoral commission (CENA) prior to the elections. On election day, citizens will vote directly for their preferred list. The seats in each district will be awarded to the list that receives the most votes, filling 112 parliamentary positions. The remaining 53 seats will be allocated based on the national percentage of votes received.
Macky Sall, who served as Senegal’s fourth president from 2012 to 2024, is positioned at the top of the Takku Wallu Senegal coalition’s proposed list for the parliamentary elections. He has expressed his commitment to ensuring accountability in the government and has highlighted the economic progress made during his tenure that he believes has been undermined in recent years.
While Sall is expected to secure a parliamentary seat, there is speculation that he may choose to pass on the position to another leading member of the coalition. The upcoming elections will see Sall’s coalition competing against the ruling PASTEF party, led by President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
Senegal, with a population of approximately 18 million, has nearly 7.4 million registered voters who will have the opportunity to participate in shaping the country’s political landscape on November 17.
