Senegal considers referendum amid constitutional reform debate

Aminata Touré, the general supervisor of Diomaye Président, stated that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye might seek direct public arbitration if presidential prerogatives are challenged by amendments introduced in the National Assembly. Speaking at a leaders' conference on Sunday, June 28, 2026, Touré criticized some deputies for attempting to profoundly alter Senegal's institutional balance. The former Prime Minister believes the proposed changes go beyond a simple constitutional revision, aiming to weaken the presidential system and strengthen the National Assembly's powers.

Touré emphasized that the President has the exclusive prerogative to submit this crucial question to the people, stating that the Senegalese people would not accept a disguised parliamentary system. She warned that if disagreements between the executive and some deputies persist, a popular consultation could become necessary to resolve the crisis. Touré accused certain parliamentarians of seeking to limit the President's powers, particularly regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly, while increasing control over the government, which she believes would lead to a "disguised parliamentary system" contrary to Senegal's chosen institutional framework.