In a decisive move to silence mounting political speculation, Ousmane Sonko, President of Senegal’s National Assembly, categorically denied allegations of issuing an ultimatum to the country’s Head of State. Speaking before legislators during a plenary session focused on labor and social security reforms, Sonko addressed the controversy with unwavering clarity.
The National Assembly leader emphasized that the constitutional revision process remains firmly within parliamentary jurisdiction, free from any coercive measures targeting the presidency. « That claim is false—no ultimatum was ever directed at the President, » he stated, dismissing rumors of institutional tension as baseless fabrications. The ongoing legislative initiative, he explained, adheres strictly to constitutional provisions and aims to advance a long-debated institutional reform agenda.
Sonko underlined that the constitutional amendment process falls under the derived constituent power, governed by the Constitution and reinforced by rulings from the Constitutional Council. He cited the January 18, 2006 decision of the Council as a legal precedent validating the Assembly’s authority to pursue revisions with a qualified three-fifths majority.
institutional harmony over political maneuvering
Dismantling claims of a rift between state powers, Sonko described the current dynamics as a healthy « dialogue among institutions. » He stressed that each constitutional body operates within its designated mandate, subject to oversight by the Constitutional Council, without encroaching on the others’ prerogatives. « Anyone expecting a crisis at the highest level of government is looking in the wrong place, » he asserted, reinforcing confidence in the procedural integrity of the legislative process.
The Assembly President concluded by affirming that the constitutional revision will proceed according to established legal frameworks, irrespective of whether the executive branch formally endorses it. His remarks positioned the legislative initiative as a structured, legally sound endeavor designed to uphold Senegal’s institutional stability.
