By Biran Gaye
The members of parliament of Benno Bokk Yaakaar have filed a motion of censure targeting the government of Ousmane Sonko, marking a significant turning point in Senegalese politics.
The decision was confirmed during the plenary session on Monday, showing political disagreements between the current regime and the former regime’s affiliated lawmakers in Senegal.
Abdou Mbow, chairman of Benno Bokk Yaakaar’s parliamentary group, announced the official tabling of the motion of censure on Tuesday before the National Assembly, presided over by Amadou Mame Diop. This move represents a concerted effort by members of the majority to obtain the resignation of the government led by Ousmane Sonko.
The decision to table the motion of no confidence came amid growing political turbulence, with criticism of the government’s current management growing. Benno Bokk Yaakaar MPs, who are clearly determined to end what they described as ‘ineffective governance’, are hopeful of mobilising enough support in the assembly to bring down the government.
The Prime Minister, who does not feel threatened by the motion of censure initiated by the MPs of the Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY) coalition, stated that no motion would be tabled before September 12. He also declared that from that date, the Benno MPs will have “other things to do than be MPs in the National Assembly.”
Earlier in July, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the National assembly had a dispute over the declaration of the former’s policy statement before lawmakers due to the non-recognition of the post of prime minister by the assembly’s internal regulations. This culminated in the amendment of the regulations to facilitate the declaration but Sonko has still not made any policy statement before the august body, much to the chagrin of the Benno Bokk Yaakaar MPs who feel the prime minister does not recognise their legitimacy to serve in the parliament.
According to reports, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had sought legal opinion of the Constitutional Council to dissolve the parliament, with many questioning the legitimacy of the current members. However, no decision has been made to this effect so far.
