Legal framework of parliamentary inquiry commissions in Senegal

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko, addressed legal concerns raised by the creation of six parliamentary inquiry commissions during the first extraordinary session of the 2026-2027 legislative year. The session, which opened on August 10, 2026, has a strict 15-day timeframe as stipulated by Organic Law No. 2025-11 of August 18, 2025.

Sonko emphasized the legality of the commissions, citing the legal principle that parliament cannot establish inquiry panels on cases already under judicial review. « The law explicitly prohibits the National Assembly from initiating parliamentary commissions on matters currently before the courts, » he stated. To dispel any doubts, he personally consulted the Minister of Justice to verify compliance with the law.

« The Minister confirmed that out of the six proposed commissions, only one—focusing on land management near the former Dakar airport—had a related active judicial case. The remaining five commissions comply with legal requirements, » Sonko explained. This clarification follows criticism regarding the sensitivity of some of the topics under investigation, including land management, the « One Student, One Laptop » program, tax exemptions, and fishing license regulations.

The session’s agenda includes 11 items: two legislative proposals, three draft laws, and six requests for parliamentary inquiry commissions. Sonko’s remarks aim to reassure the public and lawmakers about the legitimacy of the legislative process.