Senegalese MPs move to clip presidential powers as tensions mount

BBC:

Senegal’s lawmakers have passed a controversial constitutional reform that expands their powers while curbing those of the president, triggering protests outside parliament.

The reforms were passed by an overwhelming majority after heated exchanges in parliament, underscoring an escalating power struggle between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former ally-turned-rival, parliamentary Speaker Ousmane Sonko.

The government said the reforms would be put to a national referendum, although no date has been announced.

Faye and Sonko came to power together in 2024 on the promise of sweeping reforms, but their alliance has recently fractured, fuelling political uncertainty in the country.

Relations between the president and his now-former prime minister deteriorated over several months, with Sonko openly criticising Faye for his handling of Senegal’s debt problems.

It came to a head in May when Faye fired Sonko as prime minister, but Sonko, whose Pastef party has a majority of the seats in the National Assembly, was chosen by MPs as the parliamentary speaker.

The constitutional reforms, proposed by Pastef party, would strengthen parliamentary oversight by expanding lawmakers’ investigative powers, requiring the government to disclose agreements about natural resources to parliament.