Senegal‘s civil society is calling for a constitutional reform process that prioritizes public participation over political maneuvering. Following the National Assembly’s approval of the reform bill, led by Pastef lawmakers on June 29, the influential “Y’en a marre” movement has emphasized the importance of a referendum to validate the changes before they are enacted.

The collective, known for its activism over the past 15 years, has also criticized the resurgence of contentious political tactics and what it describes as “political calculations” in the reform process. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the President of Senegal, had earlier proposed a referendum to ensure broad public endorsement of the constitutional changes.

Demands for genuine reform

Aliou Sané, founder of Y’en a marre, supports the referendum initiative but insists it must be conducted with transparency. “The announcement of this referendum should not be a delaying political maneuver to undermine Pastef’s initiative. We must move forward with these reforms, but ensure citizens have the opportunity to understand and decide for themselves,” he stated.

Return to divisive rhetoric

The movement has also expressed concern over the revival of polarizing language, including the labeling of critics as part of a “LGBT lobby“. This accusation, which has gained traction in recent weeks, targets both Y’en a marre and other political opponents. Homosexuality remains a highly sensitive and criminalized issue in Senegal, with penalties strengthened earlier this year.

“These are tactics we witnessed under former Presidents Abdoulaye Wade and Macky Sall. We are falsely accused of being funded by foreign LGBT lobbies to destabilize the country. This is untrue. We recognize the sensitivity of this topic in Senegalese society. When Macky Sall made these claims, many of those now in power stood with us and were outraged,” Sané explained.

Crackdown on dissent

On June 29, twelve individuals were detained near the National Assembly during the vote on the constitutional reform bill. Among them were nine young activists from the opposition party Alternative pour la relève citoyenne (ARC). They were charged with “disrupting public order” and “participating in an unauthorized protest” before being released hours later.

Y’en a marre sees these arrests as a worrying sign of the political climate deteriorating, echoing tactics used in the past to silence opposition voices.