Senegal expands asset declaration law for leaders

Senegal's parliament passed a law on August 17 requiring the president, National Assembly speaker and prime minister to declare and publish their assets when they enter and leave office.

The measure was adopted with the approval of 133 out of 165 deputies. Asset declarations had been required under the constitution since 2001, but only when officials took office.

Under the new law, declarations must be made within three months of assuming office and within three months of leaving office.

The law was introduced by the parliamentary majority led by Ousmane Sonko and initially targeted only the president before being expanded to include the speaker of the National Assembly and the prime minister.

The vote comes during a dispute between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Sonko, his former prime minister and onetime mentor. Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister in May, and Sonko was later named speaker of the Pastef-led National Assembly.

Supporters of the two leaders, now divided into separate parties, accuse each other of lacking transparency in managing the state. Some deputies said they would oppose the law, arguing it was being used to undermine the head of state.

Justice Minister Moussa Sarr said the reform should be "part of a comprehensive approach" and would be "more coherent" if included in a broader constitutional referendum. Faye announced in June that he intended to propose a constitutional referendum, but no date has been set.