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Senegal’s parliament has approved legislation requiring the president, prime minister and speaker of parliament to declare and publish their assets both when taking office and when leaving, amid growing tensions within the ruling camp.
The law was approved on Monday by 133 of the 165 deputies, expanding asset declaration requirements that have been in place since 2001.
Under the new legislation, according to Africanews, the three senior officials must submit their declarations within three months of taking office and again within three months of leaving their positions.
The reform is intended to strengthen transparency, one of the key commitments made by the authorities who came to power in April 2024 after 12 years under former President Macky Sall.
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However, the legislation has exposed divisions within the ruling Pastef party, whose parliamentary majority supported the measure.
Some deputies opposed the law, arguing that it could be used to target or weaken President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The bill was initially introduced by the parliamentary majority led by former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and applied only to the president. It was later expanded to include the prime minister and speaker of parliament.
Justice Minister Moussa Sarr said the reform should form part of broader institutional changes and would be more coherent if included in a wider constitutional referendum.
The legislation comes as relations between President Faye and Mr Sonko have deteriorated after the two former allies fell out politically.
President Faye dismissed Mr Sonko as prime minister in May, deepening tensions between the pair, who had campaigned together on promises of political and institutional reform.
Mr Sonko later became Speaker of the National Assembly, while President Faye announced plans in June to hold a constitutional referendum, although no date has been set.
Supporters of the two leaders have traded accusations over transparency and the management of state affairs.
The new asset disclosure requirements therefore come at a politically sensitive time, adding another dimension to the divisions within Senegal’s ruling establishment.
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