Omanghana
Senegal’s National Assembly has approved a sweeping constitutional reform package that would significantly reduce presidential powers while expanding the authority of parliament and the prime minister, setting the stage for a nationwide referendum amid growing political tensions.
The bill, introduced by the ruling African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) party, passed comfortably in parliament thanks to the party’s commanding majority of 130 seats in the 165-member National Assembly.
Despite its legislative approval, the reforms have sparked fierce political debate and public opposition. In response to the growing controversy, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced that the proposed constitutional changes will be submitted to the Senegalese people through a national referendum.
Proposed Reforms Reshape Balance of Power
The constitutional amendments are designed to redistribute authority across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, marking one of the most significant institutional reforms in Senegal’s recent history.
Among the key provisions are:
Limits on Presidential Authority
The reforms would restrict the president’s power to dissolve the National Assembly and place tighter limits on executive actions during the period between election day and the official declaration of results.
Separation of State and Party Leadership
The proposed constitution would prohibit a sitting president from simultaneously serving as the leader of a political party, a move aimed at reinforcing the separation between state institutions and partisan politics.
Greater Transparency Over Natural Resources
The government would be required to formally inform parliament about international commercial agreements involving the exploitation of Senegal’s natural resources, increasing legislative oversight of major economic deals.
Judicial Reforms
The existing Constitutional Council would be dissolved and replaced by a new nine-member Constitutional Court with expanded judicial authority and constitutional review powers.
Expanded Parliamentary Oversight
Lawmakers would gain broader powers to establish parliamentary inquiry committees and strengthen oversight of government spending and the national budget.
Political Rift Deepens
The constitutional overhaul comes amid an increasingly public power struggle between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and National Assembly Speaker Ousmane Sonko, once close political allies.
Both leaders rose to power together following the March 2024 elections under the PASTEF banner. However, relations deteriorated over disagreements regarding governance and executive authority.
In May 2026, President Faye dismissed Sonko from his position as prime minister following months of political deadlock. Sonko later assumed the role of Speaker of the National Assembly, placing the two leaders at the center of an ongoing institutional rivalry.
Opposition parties argue that the constitutional reforms are politically motivated, accusing Sonko and his allies of attempting to weaken the presidency and reshape the country’s governance structure in parliament’s favor.
Heated Parliamentary Session
Debate over the bill descended into disorder inside the National Assembly.
Opposition lawmaker Abdou Mbow refused to vacate the parliamentary podium after his motion to delay consideration of the legislation was rejected. Security personnel eventually removed him from the chamber by force, prompting opposition lawmakers to stage a walkout and boycott the final vote.
The dramatic scenes underscored the deep divisions surrounding the proposed constitutional changes.
Protests Erupt Outside Parliament
While lawmakers debated inside the chamber, demonstrations broke out in the streets of Dakar.
Dozens of protesters, many affiliated with former President Macky Sall’s Alliance for the Republic (APR), gathered outside parliament carrying placards reading, “Hands off my Constitution!”
Some demonstrators attempted to breach security barriers surrounding the National Assembly, leading to clashes with law enforcement officers.
Security forces responded by deploying tear gas to disperse the crowd, and several opposition figures and civil society activists were arrested during the unrest.
Nation Awaits Referendum
With parliament having approved the reforms, attention now shifts to the planned national referendum, where Senegalese voters will decide whether the constitutional amendments should take effect.
The referendum is expected to become one of the country’s most consequential political events in recent years, with supporters arguing the reforms will strengthen democratic accountability and opponents warning they could fundamentally alter Senegal’s constitutional balance of power.
The outcome will determine the future structure of the country’s political institutions and could reshape Senegal’s governance for years to come.
Source: Omanghana
