Senegal constitutional revision adopted amid Sonko-Faye rift

On Monday, June 29, 2026, Senegal’s National Assembly overwhelmingly approved a bill to revise the constitution. The text was passed by 129 deputies from the ruling Pastef party, despite the opposition boycotting the plenary session.

Following the vote, Assembly Speaker Ousmane Sonko addressed President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, highlighting their differing views on certain provisions. ‘We still hope. Because it will never be too late to return to what matters, to what defines his political soul. I don’t think he could have changed so much in such a short time,’ Sonko said directly to the head of state.

Sonko specifically raised the issue of the president’s asset declaration. He noted that the original draft required a declaration both at the start and end of the presidential term, but reservations were later raised. ‘He himself said it when he was a candidate: the president must declare his assets upon entering and leaving office. The videos exist. What changed?’ Sonko questioned.

He argued that a commitment made to the Senegalese people cannot be altered at will. ‘On what basis can one person decide which provisions suit them and which do not? This is unacceptable,’ he declared.

These statements highlight the growing rift between the two key figures, who together championed Pastef’s political project during the March 2024 presidential election.