Senegalese police fired tear gas this Monday to disperse protesters outside parliament as lawmakers debated a constitutional amendment that would expand parliamentary powers ‌and reduce those of the President, a proposal critics say could upset the balance of power in government.

Senegalese civil society groups and political parties say the reform is an attempted power grab by parliament speaker ⁠and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.

Dispute over constitutional reform risks deepening political divisions in Senegal, particularly between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Sonko.

Sonko’s dismissal in May underscored a widening split over reforms and the response to a mounting debt crisis.

Relations between them remained tense after Sonko was elected speaker of parliament.

The push for constitutional reform has been driven by the ruling ‌Pastef ⁠party, led by Sonko. Proposed changes include a provision prohibiting a sitting president from serving as leader of a political party. Faye is also a member of Pastef, but no longer ⁠holds any official role in the party.

A political coalition supporting the president has called for an immediate withdrawal of the bill ⁠and said Faye should be able to fully exercise his powers.

Faye was elected two years ago, backed by Sonko, ⁠a charismatic figure with a strong youth following, who was barred from running himself due to a defamation conviction.

–Reuters–