Senegal civil society pushes for inclusive constitutional reform

Civil society organizations in Senegal are pushing for broad national consultation regarding proposed constitutional reforms. The movement Sursaut Citoyen has called for a consensus-based approach to avoid institutional deadlock or a partisan reform that benefits only the presidential camp.

To ensure a transparent process, these groups are advocating for the integration of previous recommendations from the National Consultations (Assises nationales) and the work of the National Commission for Institutional Reform (CNRI). One civil society coalition recently met with the Takku Wallu parliamentary group, the main opposition in the National Assembly, to signal that institutional restructuring must involve multiple political forces rather than just the executive branch led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

While some progress has been made through meetings with opposition groups, Sursaut Citoyen reported a lack of response from other key authorities, including the Presidency, regarding their requests for dialogue. The goal of these initiatives is to prevent a confrontation between the executive and the legislature by establishing a clear, inclusive roadmap for constitutional revision.