Senegal constitutional reform heads to referendum, president announces

Senegal’s president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has declared that the proposed constitutional revision currently being debated in the National Assembly will be put to a popular vote if lawmakers approve it. The reform, championed by the parliamentary majority, aims to recalibrate the balance of power among state institutions and curtail the authority of the presidency.

The announcement was made on Monday, 29 June, by Justice Minister Moussa Sarr during a session at the National Assembly. He stated that the head of state had informed the speaker of parliament of his decision to invoke Article 103 of the constitution, which allows a constitutional amendment to be submitted to a referendum.

The draft text seeks to reshape Senegal’s institutional framework by strengthening the roles of various branches of government. It provides for a clearer distribution of responsibilities among the executive, legislative, and judicial powers, resulting in a reduction of some prerogatives traditionally held by the president.

Divisions at the top of the state

The reform enjoys the backing of the parliamentary majority aligned with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, whose party dominates the National Assembly. However, the initiative unfolds against a backdrop of growing tensions between the two leading figures of Senegal’s executive branch.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko, longtime political allies, came to power after the presidential election of March 2024, which marked a major political shift in the country. In recent months, disagreements have emerged between the two men on several issues, raising questions about cohesion at the summit of the state.

By resorting to a referendum, President Faye bypasses a definitive parliamentary adoption and seeks direct approval from citizens. The popular consultation will therefore determine the fate of a project that its proponents describe as a step toward a new organization of Senegal’s institutions.