The Senegalese National Assembly has decided to postpone a vote on a bill aimed at modifying the country's biometric card project for the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO). On September 29, 2026, the Assembly announced that it was sending the bill, known as project de loi n°21/2026, back to committee for a second review. This decision was made at the request of the President of the Commission des Lois.
According to a statement released by the National Assembly on its Facebook page, the bill's examination in plenary session has been postponed to a later date. The Assembly's decision to delay the vote comes after the President of the Commission des Lois requested a second review of the bill. The postponement is not expected to affect the overall implementation of the biometric card project.
The biometric card project, which was initially established by law n°2016-09 on March 14, 2016, aims to provide CEDEAO citizens with a standardized form of identification. The proposed modifications to the law are intended to update the existing framework and ensure greater security and efficiency in the issuance of the cards.
In addition to the postponement of the biometric card bill, the National Assembly also announced the suspension of another bill, proposition de loi n°36/2026, which aims to modify the country's petroleum code. The suspension was made necessary after the government referred the bill to the Conseil constitutionnel for review.
The third vice-president of the National Assembly, Ismaïla Diallo, informed deputies that the government's referral of the petroleum code bill to the Conseil constitutionnel had led to its suspension. As a result, the examination of the bill, which was initially scheduled for the afternoon, has been put on hold.
The National Assembly's decision to postpone the vote on the biometric card bill and suspend the petroleum code bill reflects the complexities and challenges of the legislative process in Senegal. The postponements highlight the need for careful consideration and review of bills before they are voted on.
The Senegalese government and the National Assembly will continue to work on the biometric card project and other important bills. The postponements are not expected to have a significant impact on the country's relations with other CEDEAO member states, which are also expected to implement similar biometric card projects.
Key points
- The Senegalese National Assembly has postponed a vote on a bill to modify the country's biometric card project for the CEDEAO region.
- The postponement was made at the request of the President of the Commission des Lois.
- The National Assembly has also suspended a bill aimed at modifying the country's petroleum code.
