Senegal’s debate over how its democracy works has moved into a new phase, and the stakes reach far beyond the walls of parliament. In a detailed contribution, Khalidou dit Mbaye Sokoma, president of the Mouvement Patriotique pour un Développement Durable (MPPD) / AND DEFAR SUNU REEW, is calling for a serious rethink of the country’s voting system. His stated goal: a political representation that mirrors the real balance of ballots cast, stays close to ordinary citizens and reflects the everyday realities of each territory. The consequences of such a shift would be felt in every commune, neighbourhood and village.

Why the current system leaves many voters feeling unheard

Today, Senegal’s legislative elections rest on a hybrid architecture that blends a single-round majority list vote with proportional representation. Of the 165 seats in the National Assembly, 112 are filled through the majority system and 53 through proportional representation on a national list. For municipal elections, the mixed system combines 45% majority seats with 55% proportional seats.

For Khalidou dit Mbaye Sokoma, this arrangement has shown its limits and deserves fresh scrutiny so that the makeup of assemblies reflects as closely as possible the votes actually cast by citizens. The practical effect of the current model is that large numbers of voters can see their ballots translate into little or no direct representation, a gap that shapes how communities engage with national politics.

1. Full proportional representation with a stronger local foothold

One of the flagship ideas in the proposal is the introduction of a fully proportional vote for both legislative and local elections, while preserving a genuine territorial anchor.

The point is not simply to distribute seats according to each party’s electoral weight, but to rebuild the link between elected officials and the people who put them there. To that end, candidacies should open beyond party machines alone, embracing citizens’ movements, independent candidates and, under strict conditions, civil society and competent state services. Nominations would then take root in the heart of neighbourhoods and villages, rewarding local presence and popular trust.

2. Redefining what it means to be a member of parliament

The relationship between citizen, territory and representative needs to be rethought. The author stresses the need for MPs who are clearly identifiable by the people they serve and who are required to report back regularly. Political parties would keep their supporting role, but would no longer hold a monopoly on representation: the figure of the “party’s MP” would give way to that of the “MP chosen by citizens and carried by a territory.”

3. Stabilising and clarifying the local vote

Applied to municipal and departmental elections, this stronger dose of proportionality would better reflect the diversity of political views within a single commune. That openness, however, must go hand in hand with stable local executives. Khalidou dit Mbaye Sokoma suggests introducing a second round when no list reaches an absolute majority of votes (50%), allowing a clear choice between competing forces, subject to a prior study of the legal and financial impacts.

4. A more local electoral administration

To complete the framework, the grassroots organisation of elections could rely more heavily on prefects and sub-prefects within their respective areas, under the oversight of the national body and in strict respect of impartiality and equality. Such territorialisation would encourage dialogue with basic local authorities.

5. The special case of Kaolack: a new local setup

When it comes to Kaolack, a city covering nearly 6,959 hectares (69.6 km²), structured into 45 neighbourhoods and home to a considerable population (1,336,720 inhabitants according to the 2023 RGPH-5), the author advocates a tailored approach.

Given its urban growth and economic role, he recommends studying the creation of three or four district communes or proximity municipal entities. Such a change would rest on rigorous criteria: demography, infrastructure, living areas, tax resources and administrative capacity.

In short, the quality of a democracy is measured by how clearly citizens can see their vote turned into seats and can identify their own spokespeople. Khalidou dit Mbaye Sokoma is therefore calling for a broad, pluralist and well-documented national debate, so that Senegal can equip itself with a system in which every citizen, every neighbourhood and every village carries real weight in choosing the nation’s representatives. The consequences of getting this right, or leaving it as it is, will play out in daily life across the country for years to come.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst