Constitutional review: Sonko sets the pace, Diomaye under pressure? A session that reveals the true cracks in power

On Monday, the National Assembly did more than just examine a constitutional revision. It offered Senegalese citizens an intense, sometimes tense, political scene where the power dynamics at the highest levels of government were laid bare. For several hours, the debates were lively, at times even heated. Points of order, heated exchanges, the expulsion of an opposition member of parliament, the rejection of government amendments, and then a lengthy closing speech by Ousmane Sonko: all of this gave the session the air of a major political moment, far beyond the purely legislative framework.

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Ultimately, a different story has unfolded before the eyes of the members of parliament and the public: that of a Parliament which now intends to be a force to be reckoned with, and of a Speaker of the National Assembly determined to show that the institution is no longer content to simply follow the Executive. The first striking event was the rejection, first in committee and then in plenary session, of the two amendments introduced by the government. In a majority generally considered disciplined, this vote came as a surprise. It shows that on this issue, the members of parliament refused to automatically follow the Executive's proposals. They are no longer simply going along with it. This is no longer a majority that allows Diomaye to govern more easily.

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Then came the moment of asserting authority. Throughout the session, Ousmane Sonko repeatedly called for order, corrected interventions he deemed contrary to the rules, and took responsibility for the decisions made in response to incidents in the chamber. This firmness reinforced the image of a speaker determined to fully exercise control over the proceedings. First, he ordered the gendarmes to forcibly remove MP Abdou Mbow, then publicly reprimanded the Pastef MPs, reminding them of the rules set behind closed doors. But it was especially at the end of the session that the tone changed.

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Before the members of parliament, Sonko outlined the entire process that led to this constitutional revision. He then focused on the changes desired by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Without mincing words, he denounced what he called "manipulation," arguing that the spirit of the text adopted by the parliament should not be distorted. The choice of words was far from insignificant. In a system where the two men came to power together and where many continue to portray them as a close-knit duo, this public criticism marks a turning point. For the first time on such a sensitive institutional issue, the disagreements have been brought to light. This interpretation is further reinforced by the reactions that preceded the session.

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The day before, Mimi Touré and Abdou Rahmane Diouf had already spoken out against Ousmane Sonko and the proposed constitutional amendment, giving this sequence an even more political dimension. Their statement was seen as a further sign of the tensions now running through the ruling party. Within the opposition ranks as well, several voices denounced this unprecedented climate, criticizing both the conduct of the debates and the divisions now visible within the government.

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In the end, everyone leaves with their own interpretation of the event. For Sonko's supporters, this day proves that he rejects any personalization of power and that he defends the sovereignty of Parliament, even against the President of the Republic. For his detractors, the Speaker of the National Assembly went beyond his institutional role by transforming a legislative session into a political platform. One thing is certain: this constitutional revision will be remembered less for the articles amended than for the message it sent. In just a few hours, the National Assembly became the stage for a show of force, revealing that at the highest levels of government, power is no longer confined to a single voice.

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The real question now is whether this sequence was merely an isolated incident or the first sign of a more complex relationship between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko. Future decisions will determine whether this day will remain a mere parenthesis… or the beginning of a new political chapter.