The Senegalese National Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed a proposed constitutional revision on Monday, June 29, 2026. Despite a walkout by opposition members from the plenary session, the legislative measure garnered approval from all 129 deputies representing the Pastef parliamentary majority present in the chamber.
Following the significant vote, Ousmane Sonko, who presides over the National Assembly, addressed the emerging disagreements he holds with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye concerning specific clauses within the newly adopted text.
“We maintain our hope. It is never too late to realign with fundamental principles, to reconnect with what defines one’s political essence. I find it hard to believe such a significant shift could occur in such a brief period,” Ousmane Sonko stated, directing his remarks pointedly towards the head of state.
A key point of contention raised by Ousmane Sonko involved the mandate for the President’s declaration of assets. He recalled that the initial draft legislation stipulated that such a declaration would be required both at the commencement and at the conclusion of the presidential term, before certain reservations were subsequently introduced.
“It was his own assertion when he was a candidate: the President of the Republic must declare their assets both upon entering and exiting office. The evidence exists. What has fundamentally changed?” Ousmane Sonko challenged.
He firmly asserted that a pledge made directly to the Senegalese populace should not be subject to alteration based on shifting circumstances.
“By what authority can a single individual grant themselves the discretion to selectively apply provisions that suit them while disregarding those that do not? This is utterly unacceptable,” he proclaimed.
These pronouncements underscore an increasingly apparent rift between the two prominent figures, even though they jointly championed the Pastef political agenda during the March 2024 presidential election.
