A bitter fallout between former allies has just redrawn Senegal’s political map, and the streets of Dakar are already reacting.

Senegal’s National Assembly has pushed through a controversial constitutional shake up that hands lawmakers more muscle while reining in the president’s powers. The move sparked tear gas and protests right outside parliament, cbinews.tv reports.

Things got heated inside the chamber too. After fiery debates, MPs passed the reforms with an overwhelming majority. The vote lays bare the deepening rift between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his one-time ally, now political rival, parliamentary Speaker Ousmane Sonko.

The government says the changes will go to a national referendum, though we’re still waiting on a date.

Faye and Sonko rode into power together in 2024, promising sweeping reforms. But that alliance has splintered, leaving Senegal facing fresh political uncertainty.

Their relationship soured over several months, with Sonko publicly slamming Faye’s handling of Senegal’s debt crisis.

It all came to a head in May when Faye sacked Sonko as prime minister. Sonko didn’t stay down for long. His Pastef party holds the majority in the National Assembly, and MPs swiftly chose him as Speaker.

The reforms, tabled by Pastef, aim to beef up parliamentary oversight. If enacted, they’d give lawmakers greater investigative powers and force the government to bring any natural resource agreements before parliament.

Monday was tense both inside and out. Police fired tear gas to break up scores of protesters outside the building while MPs argued over the amendments. Opposition MPs walked out in protest.

Pastef, which controls 130 of the Assembly’s 165 seats, argues the changes will strengthen the separation of powers between Senegal’s executive, legislature and judiciary.

The opposition sees it differently, calling it political payback from the former prime minister, who still wields major influence over the parliamentary majority.

During Monday’s debate, Justice Minister Moussa Sarr said President Faye intends to put the matter to a public vote via referendum. But Sonko pushed back, questioning whether the president even that authority has, arguing the reforms were already validly adopted with majority backing.

Opposition parties and several civil society organisations have condemned the amendments and are demanding the bill be withdrawn immediately.

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