Senegal · Overview
The legal system of Senegal
A French-tradition civil-law system and one of the most institutionally settled in the region, with an unbroken civilian constitutional order. Commercial law is governed by the OHADA Uniform Acts; family law runs through the 1972 Code de la famille, which applies Islamic inheritance rules by election.
Legal tradition
Senegal belongs to the civil law (french tradition) tradition. A French-tradition civil-law system and one of the most institutionally settled in the region, with an unbroken civilian constitutional order. Commercial law is governed by the OHADA Uniform Acts; family law runs through the 1972 Code de la famille, which applies Islamic inheritance rules by election.
How power is divided
A strong executive presidency with a Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, a unicameral National Assembly, and a judiciary in which the Conseil constitutionnel, Cour suprême and Cour des comptes occupy separate apexes.
Where law comes from
- Constitution
- Supreme domestic norm.
- OHADA Uniform Acts
- Directly applicable; override conflicting national commercial law.
- International treaties
- Rank above ordinary statutes once ratified and published.
- Laws and ordinances
- National Assembly statutes and delegated ordinances.
- Codes
- Civil obligations, family, penal, labour and general tax codes.
- Customary and Islamic rules
- Recognised within the family code for personal status.
The legal profession
Avocats are admitted to the Ordre des avocats du Sénégal after a law degree, the CFPA professional course and a traineeship. Notaires and huissiers are separate regulated professions.
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