Senegal parliament accepts constitutional amendment bill, raising presidential authority concerns

On 12 June, the Bureau of Senegal's National Assembly declared a proposal to revise the constitution admissible. The bill, introduced by a group of Pastef/Les Patriotes deputies, incorporates observations from the Constitutional Council's decision of 25 May.

Constitutional law scholar Yaya Niang criticised the move, stating that article 103 reserves the choice of revision procedure exclusively for the president and noting that the proposal would eliminate the Constitutional Council. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had already launched his own presidential revision process, consulting a panel of "Sages" and seeking a council opinion that was deemed regular.

Legal experts warn the parallel parliamentary initiative could trigger an institutional crisis, as the referendum to adopt changes is a prerogative of the president and parliamentary approval still requires presidential submission.