Senegal: Pastef revives the constitutional reform and the control of “secret funds”

The extraordinary session comes in a tense political context. The Pastef is notably reintroducing the amendment of Article 37 of the Constitution, which would require the head of state to declare their assets at the end of their term, in addition to the declaration required upon taking office.

This provision was already part of the constitutional revision adopted by deputies at the end of June. However, the Constitutional Council had invalidated the text, dealing a setback to Ousmane Sonko’s camp. The new parliamentary initiative aims to revisit this reform in another form.

The second law proposal put forward by the majority concerns special funds, commonly referred to as “secret funds.” These envelopes, allocated to the presidency and the prime minister’s office, could be subject to increased scrutiny, particularly through a restricted commission of deputies.

Control of Special Funds at the Heart of Disagreement

The management of these funds is one of the main points of contention between Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This disagreement contributed to the breakdown between the two men last May.

For Moussa Diaw, a political science professor at Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis, these initiatives reflect Pastef’s desire to compel the president to be more transparent and accountable. The academic also links this parliamentary offensive to Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s establishment of his new party, Kiiraay.

The two political texts will be examined under an emergency procedure. However, their adoption will depend on the final content of the parliamentary debates and, if necessary, on the oversight of the Constitutional Council.

The session also includes three draft laws submitted by the government. They pertain to the Social Security Code, the Labor Code, and digital security.

The latter text comes after a series of cyberattacks targeting Senegalese public institutions. Since October, three institutions, including the Public Treasury, have been targeted, according to available information. The draft law aims to define a framework for strengthening the protection of the state’s infrastructure and digital data.