Government clarifies legal grounds for parliamentary inquiry commissions

During the opening of the first extraordinary session of the 2026-2027 legislative year, the National Assembly President addressed concerns regarding the legality of six proposed inquiry commissions, many dealing with highly sensitive matters.

Legal framework reinforced by Justice Ministry

In a decisive move, the Assembly President cited the existing legal framework governing such initiatives. «The law explicitly states that Parliament cannot establish an inquiry commission on cases currently before the courts,» he stated, adding that he had personally verified this compliance with the Minister of Justice. «Upon writing to the Justice Minister last week, I received confirmation that out of five cases examined, none were under judicial review, except for one concerning land management near Dakar’s former airport,» he explained.

Session agenda: Eleven items with six inquiry commissions

This clarification comes as the session, limited to fifteen days by Organic Law No. 2025-11 of August 18, 2025, approaches its agenda of eleven items: two draft laws, three proposed laws, and six requests for parliamentary inquiry commissions. Key topics include:

• Land management around Dakar’s former airport
• The «One student, one computer» program
• Revenue losses and tax exemptions
• Fishing license issuance conditions

The government’s response underscores the importance of adhering to legal procedures while addressing pressing national concerns through parliamentary oversight.