Analytical Perspective on Senegal’s Political, Economic, and Social Aspects

The period from 1990 to 2025 represents a critical phase in Senegal’s history, beginning with a democratic transition marked by the adoption of a new constitution in 1991. This constitution shifted the political landscape from a system of formal or non-competitive multipartyism to true multiparty democracy, opening the door for broader participation in political life and strengthening its democratic institutions. At the same time, Senegal faced multiple global economic and social challenges. Since then, the country has experienced a series of competitive elections, despite occasional criticisms regarding their integrity.

Influential political figures have emerged, such as former President Abdoulaye Wade, who represented the first peaceful transfer of power in 2000. As the new millennium began, Senegal encountered new challenges, including issues of corruption, unemployment, and social inequality, which impacted its political stability. Nevertheless, the country continued to strengthen its democratic journey, witnessing another peaceful transfer of power in the 2012 elections with the election of Macky Sall, who was reelected for a second term in 2019.

In the following sections, the researcher will analyze the political developments that have occurred in Senegal during this period, focusing on the internal and external factors that have influenced its democratic trajectory.

Political Situation

From 2020 to 2023, Senegal faced numerous political challenges, beginning with a lack of ideological consensus between the people and President Macky Sall as a result of the constitutional amendments made in 2012 during his first term. These amendments stipulated that no president could serve more than two terms, which Sall rejected in 2021 when he announced his desire to run for a third term, arguing that this provision did not apply to him since his first term preceded the amendments. This led to a strong backlash in the streets of Senegal, especially among the opposition, particularly during the events involving the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and the refusal to allow Karim Wade, the son of former President Abdoulaye Wade, to run due to his French citizenship.

The austerity policies implemented by the new Senegalese president were not innovative but rather a repetition of the same mechanisms used by previous Senegalese leaders, such as the detention of former President Abdou Diouf, who ruled from 1980 to 2000 and was one of Sall’s primary competitors. Despite the significant authoritarian tendencies exhibited by President Sall, they did not endure long against the popular will, leading to the holding of presidential elections conducted democratically, characterized by stability and transparency unique to the Senegalese political system, which peacefully transitioned to President Bassirou Doumbia Faye as an expression of the electoral outcomes. However, with President Bassirou Doumbia Faye assuming power, another problem arose concerning cohabitation with a contradictory government, with a majority loyal to the previous regime, presenting a significant obstacle to the president in implementing his program and electoral promises, leaving no option but to dissolve parliament and call for new elections.

In general, it can be said that the Senegalese street managed to overcome a significant crisis known for the fragmentation of the political offer and ideas, as evidenced by the latest presidential elections, which had around 17 candidates, with the candidate Doumbia Faye winning 54% of the vote, followed by former minister Ahmed Ba with 34%, indicating that both candidates secured a combined 88%, reflecting the lack of fragmentation in Senegal’s political landscape. In contrast, the most recent legislative elections produced only two parliamentary blocs: the (Pastaef Coalition) and the (Macky Sall Coalition), despite approximately 41 political party formations participating in the electoral process.

Political Parties in Senegal

Despite the secular nature of Senegal’s political system, which relies on democracy and freedom of expression as essential pillars of party life, Senegal currently contains around 300 political parties competing for power, with the most notable being (Alliance for the Republic, Senegalese Democratic Party, Socialist Party, Rewmi Party, and Pastef Party). This abundance of political parties reflects significant political development and democracy, as parties are indicators of political advancement. However, the situation was not always like this. Following Senegal’s independence from France on April 4, 1960, the political landscape was dominated by a single party, the Senegalese Progressive Union, which later became the Socialist Party in 1976.

This party controlled power throughout the period from 1960 to 2000, led by poet and political thinker former President Léopold Sédar Senghor until he resigned in 1981, after which he was succeeded by former Prime Minister Abdou Diouf. Despite the increase in democratic institutions and the establishment of multipartyism starting in 1970, emerging parties did not have a genuine competitive role, evident in Diouf’s dominance in presidential elections in 1983, 1988, and 1993, before being defeated in the 2000 elections by a liberal democratic intellectual pilot, the Democratic Party led by Abdoulaye Wade. Thus, this marked the first peaceful transfer of power in Senegal. Although party movements were unable to take power during the 1980s and 1990s, they managed to achieve several gains, most notably the formation of an independent body to oversee elections and the comprehensive multipartyism that paved the way for the emergence of hundreds of political parties in the country.

Senegal’s Governance System and Interrelations Among Authorities

Senegal is considered a secular democratic republic where its political system is based on presidential pillars since its independence from France in 1960. Any Senegalese citizen over the age of 35, who holds only Senegalese citizenship and enjoys full political and civil rights, has the right to run for the presidency for a term not exceeding five years, which can be renewed once. The following statistics illustrate some measures of the electoral process during different electoral periods:

Table prepared by the researcher according to statistics from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

The state’s powers are distributed among three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

• Executive Authority: This is held by the President of the Republic, who serves as the primary driver of the country and the central hub for all state institutions. His main responsibilities include outlining the political plan for the country, approving laws passed by Parliament, proposing laws to Parliament, appointing and dismissing the Prime Minister without freedom of choice, and having the authority to dissolve Parliament.
• Legislative Authority: Comprising the National Assembly with 156 seats representing Parliament, its primary role is to review agreements and proposed international treaties, as well as to examine laws submitted by the executive authority. It also has the power to approve the national budget.
• Judicial Authority: This consists of the Constitutional Council and the Supreme Court, and it is characterized by independence from the executive and legislative branches. It handles disputes between individuals and institutions or between the institutions themselves.

Empowerment of Women

Women play a significant role in the state as half of society. In Senegal, women gained the right to vote in 1945, through a decree issued by the French Constituent Assembly. This decree was the result of a long struggle by the Senegalese feminist movement, which demanded gender equality in political rights. Senegalese women participated for the first time in local elections held in 1946 and then in parliamentary elections in 1951. Since then, women have taken on an increasingly significant role in the political life of the country. In 1963, the first Senegalese woman was elected to the National Assembly, Caroline Diop. In 2001, the first Senegalese woman was appointed as Prime Minister, Mame Madior Boye. Today, Senegalese women occupy several political and leadership positions in government and civil society, with Senegal ranking third in Africa in terms of women’s representation in Parliament at 43.3%, following Rwanda and South Africa. Women hold 14 ambassadorial positions, and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs is a woman, Ms. Aissatou Sow.

Obstacles to Political Development

In light of the recent political changes in Senegal, several issues arise as obstacles to political development within the Senegalese system. The most significant include:

• Lack of Experience: Upon reviewing the new political structure in Senegal, it is notable that the ages of most political cadres are not a positive indicator of experience, as they mostly fall in their forties and fifties. For example, President Bassirou Doumbia Faye is 44 years old and lacks sufficient political experience for a leadership position like the presidency, as does Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who is 50 years old.
• Decline of Historical Political Elites: The dominance of the Pastef Party in the majority of seats in the 2024 parliamentary elections, having won 130 seats, has led to a reduction in the influence of historical parties like the Socialist Party, the Democratic Party, and the Rewmi Party. Some of these parties secured few seats, such as the Max Alliance, which obtained 16 seats, while others, such as the Democratic Party, gained nothing.

Economic Situation

Senegal is among the countries that have achieved significant economic growth in recent years as it strives to achieve sustainable development and diversify its economy. Senegal has adopted several strategies and programs to meet its developmental goals, focusing on a national plan known as the Emerging Senegal Plan, aimed at transforming Senegal into an emerging economy by 2035. Under this plan, the state intends to invest approximately 12.8 trillion CFA francs in development projects over the next five years to boost and encourage private investments in various areas, notably in extractive sectors, mining, and infrastructure projects. Additionally, the plan aims to increase investments in education and infrastructure, averaging 14.7% annually from 2025 to 2029. It also focuses on reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio to 61% by 2029, down from about 76% during President Macky Sall’s administration. Positive indicators from this plan are observable in the following table:

Source: Prepared by the researcher according to statistics from the World Bank and FAO.

Agricultural Sector

The agricultural sector in Senegal is one of the core pillars of the national economy, accounting for 17% of GDP. The population relies on it as a primary source of income and livelihood, as they either engage in agriculture or trade in agricultural products that Senegal is known for, such as sugar, rice, maize, and mangoes. This reliance has led to approximately 69% of the workforce being employed in agriculture, with women constituting about 70% of the total agricultural labor force. This can significantly hinder the support and empowerment of women in other fields. However, the Senegalese government has recently worked to address this crisis by enacting the parity law, which mandates political parties to nominate an equal number of men and women in elections.

Industrial Sector

The industrial sector in Senegal is a fundamental component of the national economy, accounting for 24.5% of GDP. However, it struggles due to low employment rates, constituting only about 20.4% of the total workforce in Senegal. The chemical industries hold the largest share of the Senegalese labor force, with approximately 4.9% of total employment. In its efforts to bolster the industrial sector, the Senegalese government has succeeded in increasing the contribution of extractive sectors, including mining and hydrocarbons, to GDP from 3.39% in 2020 to 4.98% in 2023.

Commercial Sector

Senegal is home to the Dakar port, one of the most renowned major ports in West Africa, playing a significant role in boosting foreign trade, which constituted about 80% of GDP in 2022. Senegal’s foreign trade focuses on several major exports, including petroleum (17.8%), gold (16.3%), and phosphorus and its derivatives (13.2%). In 2022, Senegal’s main export destinations included Mali (19.9% of the total value of Senegalese foreign trade), India (15.2%), and Switzerland (11.6%). In terms of imports, the Senegalese government focused on China (15%) and the European Union (21.4%). Domestically, trade is quite limited, focusing primarily on food, agricultural products, and some consumer goods while facing numerous obstacles, such as weak infrastructure, limited government funding, and volatile commodity prices.

Social Situation

Senegal is distinguished by its cultural and ethnic diversity, forming a complex societal structure where historical and cultural factors intertwine to create a unique social reality. Despite relative stability, Senegal faces significant social and economic challenges, such as poverty, which has improved from 67% in 1991 to 32% according to 2023 statistics, and an illiteracy rate of 40% in 2023, down from 65% in 1991. Nonetheless, these remain issues that contribute to rising frustration and discontent among the populace, potentially leading to unrest that calls for disbandment and separation, particularly in a country not founded on homogeneity but rather composed of multiple ethnic groups, such as the Wolof (39%), Peul (22.5%), Serer (16%), Mandinka (4.9%), Jola (4.2%), Soninke (2.4%), alongside Europeans and migrants. The country is also characterized by a multitude of languages, including Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, and others, in addition to the official language, French.

Educational Aspect

In terms of education, Senegal suffers from a high illiteracy rate, reaching 40%, with women constituting the majority at 62% of the total figure according to World Bank statistics for 2023. This negatively impacts women’s efficiency both in general work and political participation. This has significant adverse implications for society, given that women represent a crucial and central element in the developmental process within the family, alongside the fact that women outnumber men in Senegal, with a ratio of 50.8% for women compared to 49.2% for men.

Health Aspect

The health sector has seen considerable improvements in some areas but continues to face several challenges in others. Recently, life expectancy has increased to 67 years in 2023, up from 56 in 1990. Access to water and sanitation services has also improved, thanks to the Millennium Project Senegal implemented between 2010 and 2015 aimed at enhancing and reforming water supplies in urban areas and supporting rural zones. This has resulted in:

1. Providing safe water sources to 206,000 people in urban areas.
2. Providing safe water sources to 172,000 people in rural areas.
3. Establishing 140 water user associations to manage rural water networks.

Health Sector Challenges

1. Limited access to resources as the majority of the population lives in rural areas.
2. Low investment in healthcare, with health investment rates not exceeding 4.35% of GDP.
3. Insufficient medical personnel, with 44,000 employees in the health sector, 30,000 of whom work in private facilities.

Study Results

Senegal has achieved a political renaissance and a significant shift towards democracy during the period from 1990 to 2024, whether through the establishment of a comprehensive constitution that considers all ethnic differences in 1991, the entrenchment of competitive multipartyism, or emphasizing women’s roles in parliamentary life, making Senegal rank third in Africa in terms of women’s participation in politics.

Economic conditions have also improved significantly during this period, with Senegal increasingly leaning towards international partnerships in developmental investment projects to upgrade infrastructure and a notable shift towards sustainable development projects, as illustrated in the Emerging Senegal Plan in light of the 2030 vision.

Regarding the government’s attention to social issues, this has reflected positively, resulting in the increase of several indicators, such as life expectancy rising from 57 years at the beginning of the period in 1990 to 67 years at the end in 2024. Conversely, some negative indicators, such as poverty, have decreased from 67% at the start of the period to 32% at the end, as well as a reduction in the illiteracy rate from 65% in 1990 to 40% by 2024.

Recommendations

Political Recommendations:

1. Work towards enhancing comprehensive national dialogue by conducting an open national dialogue that brings together all political and social spectrums to discuss contentious issues and reach national agreements on key matters.
2. Strengthen judicial independence and integrity, ensuring it has the necessary resources to perform its duties without any external interference.

Economic Recommendations:

1. Focus on extractive and manufacturing industries rather than relying solely on agriculture, while promoting investment in sectors like information and communications technology, manufacturing, and financial services.
2. Enhance regional trade and take advantage of regional trade agreements in light of the benefits the country receives from international organizations.

Social Recommendations:

1. Increase investment in education by allocating a larger budget to the education sector, especially in rural and marginalized areas, along with providing the necessary educational resources to develop curricula that meet labor market needs.
2. Empower women by providing equal opportunities for education, training, and employment, and increasing women’s participation in politics, raising their parliamentary seats above 46, and encouraging them to run for elections and participate in decision-making.

Conclusion

This analysis clearly indicates that Senegal stands at a decisive crossroads today, facing numerous challenges that require innovative and comprehensive solutions. Politically, maintaining democratic stability and reinforcing good governance principles are top priorities, alongside the necessity of enhancing national dialogue and combating corruption in all its forms. Economically, achieving sustainable and inclusive growth requires diversifying income sources, improving the investment climate, and supporting promising sectors like manufacturing while increasing attention to rural development. Socially, efforts must continue to improve the quality of essential services in education and health, combat poverty and unemployment, empower youth and women, and foster social cohesion and religious tolerance. Ultimately, hope rests on Senegal’s ability to successfully navigate this transitional phase and move forward toward comprehensive and sustainable development, solidifying its position as a model of democracy and stability in the region.

References

“The Political Economy of Senegal Under Structural Adjustment” by Christopher L. Delgado and Sidi Jammeh.

“Senegal: Essays in Statecraft” edited by Momar Coumba Diop. ​publication.codesria.org

“The Political Economy of Underdevelopment: Dependence in Senegal” edited by Rita Cruise O’Brien. ​Google Books+1JSTOR+1

“Race to the Next Income Frontier: How Senegal and Other Low-Income Countries Can Reach the Finish Line” by Vimal Thakoor and Catherine A. Pattillo. ​elibrary.imf.org+1Google Books+1

“The Political Economy of Risk and Choice in Senegal” edited by John Waterbury.

Rama Salla Dieng Women have always been marginalized in Senegalese politics, African magazine, 2 May 2024,7March 2025, available on https://2u.pw/0N1KMEAv

Senegal Leads in women’s political participation, IDEA, 18 August 2022, 6 March 2025, available on https://2u.pw/xRBYEFtMc

The U.S government’s hunger and food security initiative ، world bank، June 2019،22 February 2025, available on https://short-link.me/TIeu