Key facts
- Senegalese police used tear gas to disperse protesters outside parliament.
- The protest occurred during a debate on a constitutional amendment.
- The proposed amendment would increase parliamentary powers and decrease presidential powers.
- Critics, including civil society groups and political parties, view the reform as an attempt by parliament speaker Ousmane Sonko to seize power.
- The reform is driven by the ruling Pastef party, led by Sonko.
- A coalition supporting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has demanded the bill's withdrawal.
Senegalese police deployed tear gas on Monday to disperse protesters gathered outside parliament as lawmakers debated a proposed constitutional amendment. The amendment, championed by ruling Pastef party leader and parliament speaker Ousmane Sonko, seeks to expand the powers of the legislature while diminishing those of the president.
Critics, including civil society groups and political parties, have voiced strong opposition, characterizing the reform as an "attempted power grab" by Sonko. They argue that the proposed changes could disrupt the existing balance of power within the government and potentially deepen existing political divisions, particularly between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Sonko.
The dispute over constitutional reform follows Sonko's dismissal in May, which underscored a growing rift over proposed reforms and the nation's response to a mounting debt crisis. Relations between Faye and Sonko have remained tense, even after Sonko was elected speaker of parliament.
The proposed changes include a provision that would prohibit a sitting president from simultaneously leading a political party. While President Faye is also a member of Pastef, he no longer holds an official role within the party. A political coalition supporting President Faye has called for the immediate withdrawal of the bill, asserting that Faye should be able to exercise his powers fully.