The president of Senegal is the head of state of Senegal. In accordance with the constitutional reform of 2001 and since a referendum that took place on 20 March 2016, the president is elected for a 5-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms. The following is a list of presidents of Senegal, since the country gained independence from France in 1960.

Election process

Inauguration

The Senegalese Constitution provides the following oath for the president which must be taken before they enter into office: "'I swear, before God and the people of Senegal, to faithfully execute the office of president of the republic of Senegal, to keep the provisions of the Constitution and laws and to ensure their observance, to devote all my strength to defending constitutional institutions, to defend Senegal's territorial integrity and its independence, and [I swear] to spare no effort to realize the unity of Africa'."

Term

Term duration

In 1991, presidential term lengths were extended from five to seven years. In January 2001, during Abdoulaye Wade's first term, a constitutional referendum reduced the presidential term back to five years. In July 2008, during Wade's second term, the National Assembly approved a constitutional amendment increasing the length of the presidential term back to seven years, as it was prior to the adoption of the 2001 constitution. This extension did not apply to Abdoulaye Wade's 2007–2012 term. In 2016, during Macky Sall's first term, per another constitutional referendum, the length of the presidential term was decreased back to five years. The amendments were adopted in constitutional law № 2016-10.

Term limits

As of 2021, there is a two-term limit for the president in the Constitution of Senegal. Abdoulaye Wade was controversially allowed to run for president in 2012 following the 2008 constitutional amendment, but lost re-election to Macky Sall.

Privileges

Buildings

The Palace of the Republic is the presidential residence, located in Dakar in the Plateau district. After having been the official residence of the Governor-General of French West Africa. The construction of the palace in its first state was ordered in 1902 by Gaston Doumergue, Minister of the Colonies, to house in the capital the Governor General of French West Africa who was then residing in Saint-Louis. The architect was Henri Deglane.

List of officeholders

{{legend||Socialist Party of Senegal (PSS)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend||Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend||Alliance for the Republic (APR)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend||African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} Elected unopposed

Timeline

Latest election