Senegal will hold a national referendum on sweeping constitutional reforms after lawmakers approved changes that would strengthen parliament and the prime minister while reducing presidential authority, setting the stage for one of Senegal’s most consequential institutional votes in recent years.
The proposed amendment, approved by the National Assembly on Monday, follows months of growing tensions between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko. The constitutional referendum marks the latest chapter in a political dispute that has reshaped Senegal’s governing coalition.
The referendum represents far more than constitutional housekeeping. It will determine whether Senegal shifts authority away from one of Africa’s strongest presidencies towards parliament while testing political stability in a country widely regarded as one of West Africa’s most resilient democracies. The outcome is also likely to be closely watched by investors as Senegal expands its offshore oil and gas sector.
Justice Minister Moussa Sarr told lawmakers that President Faye had decided to submit the constitutional amendment to a national referendum following its approval by parliament.
The legislation was introduced by Pastef, the governing party led by Sonko, which holds 130 of the National Assembly’s 165 seats.
According to AFP, the reforms are intended to create a ‘better rebalancing of powers’ between the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
The package would strengthen parliament’s oversight of government, enhance the role of the prime minister and reduce presidential authority. AP also reported that the reforms include expanded parliamentary inquiry powers, greater legislative scrutiny of natural resource agreements, the creation of a Constitutional Court to replace the Constitutional Council, restrictions on executive powers during sensitive post-election periods and tighter limits on dissolving parliament.
Supporters argue the proposals would modernise Senegal’s institutions by introducing stronger checks and balances. Opponents contend they risk upsetting the country’s constitutional equilibrium.
Political context
The constitutional debate comes after the split within Senegal’s leadership began threatening the government’s reform agenda. Once viewed as close political allies under the Pastef movement, Faye and Sonko have increasingly diverged over the direction of institutional reforms and executive authority.
After dismissing Sonko as prime minister, Faye watched his former ally become speaker of the National Assembly, giving him significant influence over a legislature still dominated by Pastef.
That development has transformed parliament into the centre of Senegal’s political contest. While supporters portray the reforms as democratic modernisation, critics see them as reflecting an emerging struggle over the country’s future institutional architecture.
Faye, elected in 2024 on promises of institutional reform, anti-corruption measures and improved governance, now faces the challenge of persuading voters that the reforms serve the national interest rather than internal political calculations.
Opposition reaction
Monday’s parliamentary session unfolded amid heightened tensions.
French broadcaster France 24 reported that an opposition lawmaker who attempted to delay the vote was forcibly removed from the chamber after refusing to leave the podium. Most opposition MPs subsequently walked out in protest.
Outside parliament, around 50 demonstrators, largely supporters of former president Macky Sall’s Alliance for the Republic party, attempted to enter the National Assembly compound before security forces dispersed them with tear gas. AFP journalists reported that several arrests were made after protesters threw stones at police.
Opposition parties and civil society organisations have criticised both the substance of the reforms and the speed of the legislative process, arguing that constitutional amendments should follow broader public consultation.
Presidential coalition leader Aminata Touré has also warned that parliament is being used to weaken the presidency by expanding the authority of the National Assembly speaker.
Senegal has largely avoided the military coups and prolonged constitutional crises that have destabilised parts of the Sahel in recent years. The referendum will therefore be viewed across West Africa as an important test of democratic resilience.
International investors are also watching developments closely. Senegal is emerging as an important offshore oil and gas producer, and the proposed reforms would increase parliamentary scrutiny of agreements involving natural resources.
Political certainty has traditionally been one of Senegal’s strongest economic advantages. A transparent referendum process could reinforce confidence in the country’s institutions, while prolonged political confrontation could delay policy implementation and complicate engagement with international partners.
The government has not announced a referendum date.
The referendum also comes shortly after Pastef re-elected Sonko as party leader despite the widening rift with President Faye, underlining how the constitutional campaign is likely to unfold against an already tense political backdrop.
If approved by voters, the reforms would significantly reshape Senegal’s constitutional framework and redefine the relationship between the presidency, parliament and the prime minister.
The campaign is expected to focus not only on constitutional law but also on competing visions for Senegal’s democratic future. For Faye, the referendum offers an opportunity to secure public legitimacy for institutional reform. For Sonko and Pastef, it represents a chance to embed a stronger parliamentary system within the country’s constitution.
Ultimately, Senegalese voters—not parliament—will decide whether the proposed redistribution of power becomes the country’s new constitutional settlement.
Credit: Africabriefing
