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Members of the National Assembly of Senegal
Chaos erupted in Senegal’s parliament on Thursday after a lawmaker punched a female colleague in scenes that were televised live.
Parliamentary proceedings were interrupted during the presentation of the budget, after opposition MP Massata Samb left the podium and walked towards Amy Ndiaye Gniby of the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition to punch her.
In retaliation, Ms Gniby threw a chair at Mr Samb, before other MPs intervened, but the chaos continued, with lawmakers exchanging blows, leading to the suspension of the session.
Local media report that Mr Samb reminded the House of remarks Ms Gniby had made earlier which he described as “discourteous”.
Ms. Gniby would then have replied from her seat that she “didn’t care”. Mr. Samb then interrupted his speech and rushed towards her.
Highest proportion of female parliamentarians in West Africa
44% of seats in the country’s newly elected legislature are held by women.
Following elections in July, 73 of the 165 parliamentary seats will now be held by women, the highest proportion of any country in the region.
Senegal ranks fourth in Africa and 18th in the world for gender parity in parliament, ahead of Switzerland, France, Britain and the United States, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva.
A 2010 law requiring “absolute gender parity” in all elective institutions is behind the country’s high proportion of women in office.