As the first extraordinary session of the 2026-2027 legislative year convened on August 10, President of the National Assembly Ousmane Sonko preemptively addressed potential legal challenges surrounding six new parliamentary inquiry commissions—several of which examine highly sensitive issues.
In a detailed address to deputies, he underscored the legal boundaries governing such initiatives: « The law explicitly states that the National Assembly cannot establish a parliamentary commission on cases currently under judicial review, » he explained. Sonko further noted that he personally verified this compliance with the Minister of Justice, adding: « After consulting with the Minister last week, we confirmed that out of the five targeted cases, only one—the land management investigation near Dakar’s former airport—could potentially overlap with ongoing judicial proceedings. »
Session agenda focuses on critical national issues
This clarification comes as the session, capped at 15 days under Organic Law No. 2025-11 (August 18, 2025), proceeds with an agenda featuring 11 key legislative items: two proposed laws, three government bills, and six requests for parliamentary inquiry commissions. Among the prioritized topics are:
- Land management around Dakar’s former airport site
- The « One Student, One Laptop » program
- Revenue losses and tax exemptions
- Fishing license issuance conditions
