Audio By Carbonatix
Senegalese people living abroad will be able to run for office in their home country for the first time in July's elections after MPs voted to increase the number of seats in parliament.
The national assembly will add 15 seats for members of the country's diaspora, bringing the total to 165.
There are hundreds of thousands of Senegalese expatriates who support families back home with remittances.
The new MPs will have to return to Senegal to serve their five-year terms.
The opposition has criticised the move, describing it as a waste of money.
"This measure is absurd," Amar Sarr, an MP from the main opposition Democratic Party of Senegal (PDS) told the BBC.
Across French-speaking West Africa, expatriates are often given a say in national politics through the foreign ministry, but rarely through direct parliamentary representation.
Opposition MPs unsuccessfully argued for keeping the size of the National Assembly at its current level of 150 MPs.
They have said they will appeal the bill at the Constitutional Court.
Latest Stories
-
Sylvester Mensah urges Latenu FM to promote trade, export opportunities in Ga
3 minutes -
Ga language under threat of decline as children shy away from speaking it – Sylvester Mensah
7 minutes -
‘Let every Ga child you raise know the Ga language and story’ – Sylvester Mensah
14 minutes -
‘We are not deterred’ – Ablakwa responds to backlash over South Africa evacuation
15 minutes -
NCA announces major voice and data disruption across Northern Ghana due to fibre cuts
57 minutes -
Photos: Housing solutions take centre stage at Day 2 of the 3rd Republic Bank-JoyNews Habitat Fair
1 hour -
Video: Immunity should be exercised without creating classism – Inusah Fuseini on cocaine bust
2 hours -
Ghana Air Force passes out 293 recruits after six months of intensive training
2 hours -
EOCO vrs Baffour Awuah: EOCO should have secured warrant before arrest attempt at court – Inusah Fuseini
2 hours -
Triple fibre cuts disrupt telecom services across Northern, Oti regions – Sam George
2 hours -
Politicisation could undermine parliamentary probe into cocaine seizures – Dr Osae-Kwapong
2 hours -
EOCO chases MP: Can Section 41 cure lacuna in EOCO Act? – Inusah Fuseini asks
2 hours -
GNFS, GWL inspect fire hydrants in Ministries enclave; 23 found faulty
3 hours -
Gov’t directs release of 50,000 bags of grain to ECOWAS
3 hours -
Ghana, Germany deepen cooperation on railways, labour mobility
3 hours