Tensions between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko have escalated into what local media describe as a “new season of confrontation.” The rift began when Sonko was removed from office on May 22, only to secure a seat in the National Assembly four days later—a move that shifted the political balance in favor of the legislature.

This shift has intensified the debate over a proposed constitutional reform, with the two branches of government now locked in a standoff over institutional power. As Sud Quotidien put it in its headline, the nation is witnessing a “clash of institutions.”

On June 29, the National Assembly—where Sonko’s party, the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics, and Fraternity (PASTEF), holds 130 of 165 seats—approved a constitutional revision proposal. However, Justice Minister Moussa Sarr declared that its final adoption would require a national referendum, adding another layer of complexity to the process.

By Maimouna Kaboré — Editor-in-Chief