Dakar, Senegal (Running Africa) — Senegal’s National Assembly has approved a sweeping package of constitutional reforms that would significantly reduce presidential powers and strengthen the role of parliament, setting the stage for a national referendum on the proposed changes.

The reforms come amid growing political tensions between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who was recently elected president of the National Assembly.

Backed by the ruling Pastef party, the constitutional amendments seek to enhance parliamentary oversight of executive decisions, particularly those involving the country’s natural resource agreements. The proposals also call for replacing the existing Constitutional Council with a nine-member Constitutional Court.

Under the reform package, future presidents would be barred from simultaneously serving as leaders of political parties, while new limits would be placed on the executive’s authority to dissolve parliament. The amendments would also restrict major executive decisions during the transitional period between presidential elections and the official declaration of results.

Supporters say the reforms are intended to strengthen democratic institutions, improve transparency, and reinforce the separation of powers in Senegal’s political system.

However, opposition parties and civil society groups have criticized the proposals, arguing they require broader public consultation. Demonstrations erupted outside parliament during the vote, with police deploying tear gas and detaining several activists and opposition figures.

Although lawmakers have approved the constitutional reform package, the government says the amendments will ultimately be decided by Senegalese voters through a national referendum, with the date yet to be announced.