Senegalese President Calls for Referendum on New Law Limiting Presidential Powers

By Njodzeka Kernyuy

Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has decided to take the new constitutional revision bill to a referendum for the general population to decide, Justice Minister Moussa Sarr has announced.

This follows a bill adopted by parliament on Monday, June 29, stripping the president of certain powers while empowering the National Assembly and the prime minister.

Under the revised constitution, an incumbent president cannot bind the state in any contract, head a political party or coalition, and must declare assets before and after office, among other provisions.

The bill was overwhelmingly passed by 129 parliamentarians out of 165 seats. The Pastef Party, led by President Faye’s political foe and national Assembly Speaker, Ousmane Sonko, maintains a majority of 130 of the 165 seats.

The opposition boycotted the vote, and protesters who gathered outside parliament also voiced their opposition. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators.

According to parliament, now led by former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, the bill aims to balance power between the executive and the legislature while strengthening transparency in the management of the country’s affairs.

Under the amendment, the prime minister gains more real power to run the day-to-day government, and it becomes harder for the president to dissolve parliament.

Although the bill has been adopted, it still requires the president’s signature to become law. Under Article 74 of the Senegalese constitution, the president has eight days to promulgate the bill; if he does not, it automatically becomes law.

President Calls for Constitutional Referendum

When the bill was voted on Monday, June 29, the presidency immediately reacted, stating that it would call for a referendum under Article 103 for the people to decide. This means the Senegalese people will have the final say on the new bill.

“It is appropriate to remain faithful to the consistent Senegalese tradition since 1960, which has never formally prohibited the president of the republic from presiding over a political party or political coalitions,” said Justice Minister Moussa Sarr.

If Successful, Bill Complicates Faye’s Political Ambitions

If the Senegalese people vote in favor of the bill in the yet-to-be-announced referendum, it will complicate matters for President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who may want to run for a second term.

Faye came to power under the ticket of the Pastef Party, where he was secretary general. As president, he appointed Ousmane Sonko as prime minister. Sonko remains the head of the Pastef party.

Over time, the president fell out with the prime minister, who frequently and openly disagreed with him on policy.

Last May, the president fired Sonko as prime minister. Within just a week, Sonko reclaimed his suspended parliamentary mandate and was elected speaker of the Senegalese parliament. In his new role, he promised not to use the assembly for political vendettas.

Now, many see the constitutional reforms by parliament as ways of clipping the president’s wings. Faye does not have any political party apart from a presidential coalition supporting him.

Under the new bill, he cannot head any political coalition, making it difficult for him to seek reelection without being endorsed by another political party. Senegalese presidential elections are scheduled for March 2029.