Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in open political showdown over constitutional reforms

Senegal’s political climate has sharply deteriorated as Assembly President Ousmane Sonko confronts President Bassirou Diomaye Faye over a set of constitutional reform proposals. Sonko has formally requested the president’s opinion on the reforms, giving Faye until June 22 to respond. In anticipation of a possible deadlock, deputies have re‑characterised the executive’s reform draft as ordinary bills to bypass the president’s assent, while Sonko has scheduled a further Assembly meeting on June 24 to set a legislative timetable if no response is received.

The controversy also centres on the legality of Sonko’s own mandate as Assembly president, with opposition lawyers arguing, “On a aujourd’hui un président de l’Assemblée nationale qui n’est pas député… C’est une première !” The constitutional council declined to rule on the matter, deeming it an internal parliamentary issue, leaving the dispute unresolved and intensifying the institutional crisis.