Police in Senegal have deployed tear gas against protesters advocating for constitutional reform
Senegalese police on Monday deployed tear gas to break up protests outside parliament during a debate among lawmakers regarding a constitutional amendment aimed at increasing parliamentary powers while diminishing those of the president. Critics argue that this proposal could disrupt the balance of power within the government.
Senegalese civil society groups and political parties assert that the reform represents an attempted power grab by parliament speaker and former prime minister Ousmane Sonko.
Disagreements regarding constitutional reform threaten to exacerbate political rifts in Senegal, especially between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Sonko.
Sonko’s dismissal in May highlighted a growing divide regarding reforms and the approach to an escalating debt crisis.
Relations between them continued to be strained following Sonko’s election as speaker of parliament.
The movement for constitutional reform has been spearheaded by the ruling Pastef party, under the leadership of Sonko. Proposed changes encompass a provision that would prevent a sitting president from holding the position of leader of a political party. Faye is a member of Pastef but no longer holds any official role in the party.
A political coalition backing the president has urged for an immediate retraction of the bill and stated that Faye should be allowed to fully exercise his powers.
Faye was elected two years ago, supported by Sonko, a charismatic figure with a significant youth following, who was prevented from running himself due to a defamation conviction.
