Senegal: Towards the end of the political party fair?

Senegal, all-category champion of partisan proliferation

Ah, Senegal! This country where democracy seems to rhyme with a galloping inflation of political parties. Just imagine: nearly 400 officially registered parties. Yes, you read that right, four hundred! Enough to make even the most seasoned voter dizzy. This absurd situation did not escape the attention of the newly elected president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who, in his end-of-year speech, pointed out this "too lax application of the texts in force" which favors such a proliferation.

A stated desire to bring order to the political cacophony

The Head of State did not just note the problem. He announced imminent consultations aimed at "bringing more clarity, more transparency and more rationalization" to the Senegalese political system. An initiative that, let's hope, will not turn into yet another Théodule committee.

Unglamorous precedents for rationalization

It must be said that this question is not new. Before Faye, his predecessors all tried, with more or less success (rather less than more), to bring order to this partisan jungle. From four parties under Senghor, we went to 45 under Diouf, then to 188 under Wade, and finally to 339 under Macky Sall. An exponential progression that leaves one wondering about the effectiveness of the measures previously adopted.

The challenges of an expected reform, but one fraught with pitfalls

The task therefore looks arduous for President Faye. Between the resistance of existing parties, often more concerned with their survival than with the general interest, and a population disillusioned by promises repeated over and over again, the room for maneuver is narrow. Not to mention that behind this plethora of parties sometimes hide excessive personal ambitions, petty quarrels, and a glaring absence of coherent political projects.

Towards a quality democracy or a simple cosmetic operation?

Will the announced rationalization be the prelude to a more mature democracy, where political parties will have a real popular base and serious programs? Or will we witness yet another cosmetic operation intended to calm the ardor of critics without changing anything in depth? Only the future will tell us. In the meantime, the Senegalese citizen, for his part, continues to navigate blindly in this ocean of acronyms and initialisms, hoping that, this time, the political class will be able to demonstrate responsibility and clear-sightedness.