The National Assembly of Senegal now aims to put an end to parliamentary absenteeism. With draft law no. 10/2026 amending Article 118 of the Rules of Procedure, examined and adopted by a majority vote by the Law Commission on May 6, 2026, members of parliament absent without justification risk harsher, graduated, and potentially devastating sanctions for their political careers. If this amendment, voted on in committee, is passed in plenary session this Friday, May 8, 2026, it will mark a major turning point.

Behind this reform, championed by Mohamed Ayib Salim Daffé and Aïssata Tall, the stated objective is clear: to restore the credibility of the parliamentary institution and respond to an increasingly critical public opinion regarding empty seats in the chamber.

In his report presented to the Law Commission, rapporteur Yongar Dione emphasized the need to strengthen the "exemplary conduct," "transparency," and "accountability" of elected officials. According to the authors of the report, attendance is not simply a political choice but an obligation directly linked to the exercise of their mandate. The members of parliament reiterated that national representation loses credibility when elected officials repeatedly miss work while receiving allowances and public funding. The report thus aims to make the current system more effective by introducing rigorous oversight mechanisms.

Graduated sanctions: towards the suspension of benefits

One of the main innovations of the text lies in the introduction of a progressive system of sanctions. The reform rests on four pillars: a "reliable and traceable" record of absences, proportionate sanctions, a framework for legitimate excuses, and an adversarial procedure before any decision is made. In other words, an absent member of parliament will not be automatically sanctioned. They must be informed of the charges against them and will be able to submit supporting documentation.

But for chronic absentees, the consequences could become severe. The report notes that the internal regulations already provide for financial penalties. The new reform clarifies the thresholds and application procedures: members of parliament who accumulate unjustified absences could have their parliamentary allowances suspended. For proponents of the legislation, it is inconceivable that a member of parliament should receive all their benefits while consistently missing sessions.

The threat of "forced resignation"

However, it is the provision concerning "automatic resignation" that has sparked the most tension. The text stipulates that beyond a certain threshold of repeated and unjustified absences (suggested to be around ten absences), the member of parliament in question could lose their seat. This measure has provoked a heated debate. Some elected officials believe it is legally risky to speak of "automatic resignation," pointing out that a mandate entrusted by the sovereign people cannot be subject to a simple internal disciplinary mechanism. They fear, in particular, that it could be deemed unconstitutional.

In response to criticism, the authors of the text assert that the mechanism already exists in the current regulations, but that it lacked precision. They maintain that the procedure protects the elected official's rights through the Bureau's review of the case and a final vote by the Assembly. For the proponents, this is not an arbitrary measure, but a tool for accountability.

Legitimate apologies acknowledged

The text nevertheless takes into account several situations justifying an absence: illness, accident, parliamentary missions, legal obligations, serious family events, or force majeure. Members of parliament living abroad could also benefit from a specific system due to the constraints related to geographical distance. The authors of the reform thus state that they want to avoid any excessive rigidity.

For its proponents, this reform aligns with the spirit of the 15th legislature, marked by a desire to break with past practices. Several commissioners have stated that citizens now demand greater commitment from their representatives. Some parliamentarians have even proposed publishing the names of absentees to increase public pressure, an idea that has nonetheless met with reservations in order to avoid any "stigmatization."