The president of Senegal (French: Président du Sénégal) is the head of state and head of government 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.
Term
Term duration
In January 2001, during Abdoulaye Wade's first term, a constitutional referendum reduced the presidential term from seven 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 to seven years, as it was prior to the adoption of the 2001 constitution. This extension didn't 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. There was an attempt to modify the term limits in 2012 for Abdoulaye Wade, but it did not materialize.
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 AOF who was then residing in Saint-Louis. The architect was Henri Deglane.
Presidents of Senegal (1960–present)