Sonko cuts short parliamentary recess amid constitutional law crisis
Ousmane Sonko, President of the National Assembly, has called an emergency session of parliament just days after legislators entered their annual recess. The move follows the Constitutional Council’s decision to strike down Law No. 18/2026, a controversial constitutional amendment bill that had sparked intense debate across Senegal.
Parliamentary recess lasted barely a week before legislators were summoned back to Dakar. President Sonko announced an urgent meeting of the Assembly’s bureau for this Friday at 15:00, citing the need for immediate parliamentary action in response to the unexpected ruling.
The Constitutional Council’s decision to annul Law No. 18/2026 has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. While Sonko initially acknowledged the court’s authority in a measured statement, his decision to reconvene the bureau suggests deeper strategic calculations are now in play. The abrupt change in parliamentary schedule raises questions about the government’s next legislative moves and the future of constitutional reforms in Senegal.
The timing of this emergency session could not be more critical. With the nation watching closely, Sonko faces the delicate task of balancing institutional respect for judicial decisions with the political imperatives of his parliamentary majority. The bureau’s deliberations this Friday will likely set the tone for how the Assembly navigates this constitutional crisis in the coming weeks.
