State in Senegal

Senegal’s constitutional order is based on the Constitution of 22 January 2001, as amended. French is the official language. The President is the guardian of the Constitution, determines national policy, chairs the Council of Ministers, appoints the Prime Minister and ministers, signs decrees and ordinances, represents Senegal abroad and serves as commander-in-chief. The presidential term is five years, direct election uses a two-round system and the Constitution limits the office to two terms. As of 12 September 2026, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye is President and Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo is Prime Minister. The Government acts collectively under the President and is politically accountable to the President and the National Assembly. The current ministerial structure is set by Decree No. 2026-1133 of 1 June 2026, which provides for 26 ministries. The Presidency, Primature, ministries, public establishments and companies with public participation carry out national functions. Institutional websites may contain older information, so the current decree and the responsible ministry should be checked for a specific service. The National Assembly is a single-chamber parliament. It passes laws, approves and oversees the budget and scrutinizes the Government. Senegal has no Senate. The Conseil économique, social et environnemental and the Haut Conseil des collectivités territoriales were abolished by Law No. 12/2024 of 14 December 2024. Elections belong to the separate electoral process, while these institutions explain how elected bodies exercise public authority. The Conseil constitutionnel has seven members appointed for six non-renewable years. It reviews constitutional matters and treaties, resolves certain conflicts of authority and handles an exception d’inconstitutionnalité. The Cour suprême hears cassation cases, reviews administrative decisions, examines excès de pouvoir and can review the legality of local acts. It also provides administrative référé procedures and legal aid mechanisms. Ordinary courts and tribunals handle other judicial matters. The Cour des comptes audits public accountants, budget-law execution and the management of public bodies, local authorities and agencies, and can sanction management faults. Senegal combines déconcentration and décentralisation. Under déconcentration, State services operate through the Governor at regional level, the Préfet at departmental level and the Sous-préfet at arrondissement level. The latest broad statistical reference, ANSD’s RGPH-5-2023, records 14 regions, 46 departments, 127 arrondissements and 553 communes. These figures should not be mixed with older ministry pages that still state 14 regions, 45 departments or 123 arrondissements. For a concrete procedure, the current territorial map and the authority named by the relevant source should be verified. Under décentralisation, the Département and Commune are territorial authorities with elected councils, their own services, budgets and resources, subject to transferred powers. A Ville can coordinate certain functions. State representatives exercise contrôle de légalité over local decisions. Challenges involving the legality of local acts may reach the Cour suprême, while financial management can fall within the Cour des comptes’ audit role. Village chiefs and religious authorities may receive administrative support through DGAT or DARC, but they are not equivalent to State courts or statutory legal authorities. Public administration is divided by function. Relevant bodies include the Ministry of Interior and Public Security, the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Planning, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Public Service Reform, the Ministry of Urban Planning, Territorial Authorities and Regional Planning, the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Communication and Relations with Institutions. DGAT coordinates the work of Governors, Prefects and Sous-prefects. Senegal Services brings together forms and online services, while ministries and local offices handle services that remain institution-specific. Fees and processing times depend on the service and procedure; Senegal has no general State fee that applies to all public services. Public finance uses the DPBEP and DPPD as planning instruments, followed by the annual finance law, possible amending finance laws and quarterly or annual execution. For 2026, projected revenue is FCFA 6,188.8 billion, expenditure is FCFA 7,433.9 billion, the deficit is FCFA 1,245.1 billion and investment spending is FCFA 2,384.6 billion. The Ministry of Economy, Finance and Planning manages taxation, customs, public debt and budget execution. The National Assembly authorizes and politically oversees the budget, while the Cour des comptes audits its execution. Territorial authorities manage their own budgets and resources and may receive funds or transfers through established mechanisms. ARCOP is an independent administrative authority with financial and administrative autonomy. It regulates public procurement and handles dispute resolution and oversight. APPEL supports electronic procurement. These bodies are relevant when a company or public institution takes part in a public contract, challenges a procurement process or needs to follow a formal tender procedure. Several bodies provide oversight and complaint channels. OFNAC receives complaints and denunciations, conducts investigations and audits, supports prevention and handles asset-declaration duties under Laws No. 2025-12, 2025-13 and 2025-14. Its hotline is 800 000 900. The IGE and specialist inspectorates also inspect public administration. The CNDH, made an independent administrative authority by Law No. 2024-14, promotes and protects human rights, receives individual and collective complaints, investigates and issues recommendations. The Médiateur and the Observateur national des Lieux de Privation de Liberté provide complaint and detention-monitoring functions but are not courts. Constitutional protections include freedom of expression and access to information within the limits set by law. Law No. 2025-15 allows a person to request information from covered bodies without giving a reason. On-site consultation is free, electronic copies are free and reproduction costs may be charged up to the actual cost. Exceptions include national defence, investigations, judicial matters, health and security information. If a request fails after the required approach to the relevant body, a complaint may be submitted to CONAI, the independent administrative authority for access to information. Decree No. 2025-1837 of 18 November 2025 sets related implementation rules. Media and digital content oversight is being reorganized. Under Law No. 2026-09 of 10 April 2026, CNRM covers print, audiovisual and online press, digital platforms and content creators. Its functions include pluralism, independence, professional ethics and protection of minors and culture. The CNRA website remains active, so the operational transition from CNRA to CNRM should be checked in a concrete case. Security functions are divided between the armed forces and civilian security services. The Ministry of the Armed Forces manages organization, readiness, equipment, supply, territorial defence and international obligations. The General Staff plans joint operations, mobilization and the work of the army, air force and navy. The Gendarmerie is a military police force under the armed forces but operates under the Ministry of Interior for police missions. The Police nationale, through the DGPN, handles State security, protection of institutions and people, borders, foreign nationals, travel documents, public order, crime, terrorism and transnational crime. The BNSP provides fire, rescue, disaster and environmental protection services. ASP supports preventive community security and does not replace the Police or Gendarmerie. Access to a public service normally begins with Senegal Services, the responsible ministry, a local administrative office or the relevant court, oversight body or complaint authority. The required documents, fee and deadline depend on the service. Rights and duties can arise from the Constitution, legislation, an administrative decision, a public contract or a security procedure. Taxes and other public obligations apply under the relevant rules, while security and public-order duties depend on the person’s situation and the authority involved.