Abolishment of the Parliamentary Seat for Senegal in the French Parliament

On April 2, 1852, a significant political change occurred when Napoleon III abolished the parliamentary seat for Senegal, which had been established to represent the Four Communes in the French Parliament. This decision marked a considerable setback for the political representation of these communities, which had previously gained the right to elect a Deputy to the French Parliament. The Four Communes, consisting of Gorée, Saint-Louis, Dakar, and Rufisque, had been granted this right under a law passed in Paris, allowing them to participate in the legislative process for the first time. The abolition of their parliamentary seat not only diminished their political voice but also reflected the broader challenges faced by colonial territories under French rule. It wasn't until the downfall of the French Second Empire that the Four Communes regained their parliamentary representation, with a new law reinstating their seat on February 1, 1871. This historical context highlights the fluctuating nature of political representation for colonial entities and the impact of imperial policies on local governance.