In a decisive vote at the National Assembly, the ruling Pastef party secured approval for its constitutional reform bill, with 129 deputies endorsing the proposal. The government’s attempts to introduce amendments were firmly rejected, marking a clear rejection of the executive branch’s proposals by the parliamentary majority.
The session was presided over by National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko, whose handling of proceedings drew sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers. The government, represented by Justice Minister Moussa Sarr, defended four amendments aimed at rebalancing institutional powers in favor of the legislature. However, these were swiftly dismissed by Pastef deputies.
Opposition denounces procedural violations
The opposition, led by Aïssata Tall Sall, accused the assembly’s leadership of violating parliamentary rules. Their boycott followed the forcible removal of opposition deputy Abdou Mbow, who had refused to vacate the podium after being ordered to stop speaking. The incident became a focal point for the opposition’s criticism of what they described as a slide toward authoritarian practices.
« The goal was achieved, declared Aïssata Tall Sall. We demonstrated to the world that the National Assembly has become a dictatorship, a sham. They deployed gendarmes to eject a deputy exercising his right to speak. Mission accomplished.»
Institutional power struggles intensify
Justice Minister Moussa Sarr had argued that the reform undermined the delicate balance between the presidency and the legislature. Key concerns included the expanded ability to file no-confidence motions—up to ten times per legislative term—while limiting the president’s power of dissolution to just once during their mandate. Sarr warned that these changes disrupted the traditional institutional equilibrium and raised constitutional concerns.
Disagreements within the ruling coalition
Tensions also surfaced between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko over provisions such as mandatory asset declarations at the start and end of a term. Sonko criticized the president for selectively retaining only those elements of the reform that suited his agenda, questioning the legitimacy of unilaterally altering commitments made by the party.
« The Constitution does not belong to Bassirou Diomaye Faye alone, Sonko asserted. He cannot cherry-pick which commitments to honor. We have fought this battle together for over a decade. Why should one individual have the authority to rewrite the rules to their advantage?»
While Sonko urged the president to promulgate the law, President Faye has indicated plans to submit the reform to a national referendum. The proposal has already sparked protests from opposition groups and civil society outside the assembly, signaling continued political friction over the constitutional changes.
