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Senegal’s constitional reform continues to split the country’s political landscape: Outside the parliament building in Dakar, angry protesters marched last week against the new country’s proposed new constitution
The situation however escalated when security forces fired tear gas to disperse the crowd
Meanwhile, lawmakers inside the building engaged in a heated debate, with opposition politicians boycottng the vote on the reform; some were even seen storming the podium. One lawmaker had to be forcibly removed from the chamber by security forces
Despite all this, the controversial constitutional reform was eventually passed in parliament by a majority vote of the ruling PASTEF (African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics, and Brotherhood) party amid great confusion of who supports whom in the escalating power struggle in Senegal’s top political positions
However, there’s no victory for anyone to celebrate just yet: President Bassirou Diomaye Faye refused to sign the bill, announcing that a referendum would be held instead.
He did not specify a date when the public would get to vote on the proposed amendments
Will Senegal’s Diomaye deliver?
Plans to curtial presidential powers
Initiated by former prime minister and current parliamentary leader Ousmane Sonko, the legislative amendment is evidently intended to curtail the powers of incumbent President Faye
According to media reports, the new constitution aims to replace the Constitutional Council with a Constitutional Court, which would be comprised of more membersm and to strengthen parliament’s oversight powers
Under the changes, parliament must also be “automatically informed” of investment agreements related to natural reg of public finances
Another provision states that the incumbent president of Senegal cannot simultaneously serve as the chair of a political party
“Parliament is being used to weaken the president,” says Aminata Toure, chair of the presidential coalition. “The proposals appear to be aimed at limiting the influence of the President of the Republic by expanding the powers of the Speaker of the National Assembly.”
An imbalance of power?
The escalating power struggle between President Faye and his former ally Sonko has become all too apparent in parliament and beyond
Despite coming to power together in 2024, taking over from former President Macky Sall’s government, the former allies within the PASTEF party have now become bitter rivals
The two had promised their voters a long list of comprehensive reforms, aiming to combat corruption in the country while boost the economy and offering better prospects for young people
But relations between the president and his now-former prime minister deteriorated, with Sonko openly criticizing Faye for his handling of Senegal’s debt problems
Disagreements over governance intensified, with the tensions escalating in May: Faye fired Sonko as prime minister and dissolved the coalition government
Sonko however enjoys broad support in parliament; since PASTEF holds the majority of seats in the National Assembly, Sonko was swiftly elected party chairman and speaker of the National Assembly by the members of parliament
Thus, he was able to regain a position of power and continue to exert influence over the country’s politics, for the time being
According to analyst Malao Kante, this could trigger a direct confrontation between the two former allies: “We can actually view Ousmane Sonko as the new face of the opposition, though this opposition now holds a parliamentary majority,” Kante told DW, highlighting the changing power dynamics in the country
“There is a danger of a vote of no-confidence against the next prime minister. It is clear that this will put the country in a somewhat complicated situation and hinder the proper functioning of the state,” he added
Welcome reaction to referendum
Faye’s decision to hold a plebiscite was welcome by the demonstrators, most of whom belong to the “Alliance for the Republic” (APR), the party of former President Macky Sall
Pape Abdou Ndiaye, was one of the protestors outside the parliament building in the capital Dakar. “If we want to change something, it has to be discussed, and a referendum held,” the 23-year-old told the French Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency
He believes that that any reform should “based on consensus,” reflecting a sentiment shared by many Senegalese
Moussa Niang joined the demonstrations, saying that the people were marching “on the streets of Dakar to defend our constitution.”
“What they want to establish today under the guise of a constitutional amendment is a dual-headed system; a powerful National Assembly that can even limit the powers of the President of the Republic in order to — rightly or wrongly — impose its will on other institutions,” he told AFP
Mor Fall, 27, also insists that the people must have the final say. There is a “very clear desire to monopolize power and create a situation that favors the prime minister or the National Assembly,” he said
But there’s also support for constitutional reform among the ruling party. For Fode Mane, a member of PASTEF, the proposed reforms are the direct result of an election pledge: “When we ran in the presidential election, we committed to adapting the constitution to current needs,” he told DW
That is why this revision is necessary, he believes. “It includes aspects that will rebalance the power dynamics between the president and the prime minister. The latter, for example, will have the opportunity to chair the Council of Ministers and, in consultation with others, formulate government policy.”
Senegal crisis: Faye–Sonko split explained
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Saikou Seydi in Dakar contributed to this article
