Senegal's Political Crisis Deepens as Sacked PM Ousmane Sonko Now Elected President of Senegal's National Assembly

Senegal’s political crisis deepened on Tuesday after parliament elected former prime minister Ousmane Sonko as speaker of the National Assembly, days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye removed him from office and dissolved the cabinet.

The dramatic turn of events highlights growing tensions within Senegal’s ruling leadership, despite both men rising to power together under the banner of the governing Pastef party.

Sonko, a charismatic opposition figure who built his popularity through anti-establishment and pan-African rhetoric, was widely viewed as the political force behind Faye’s 2024 election victory.

Although Sonko was expected to contest the presidency himself, he was barred from running because of a defamation conviction handed down before the election.

He instead endorsed Faye, his longtime ally and former protégé, who went on to win the presidency in March 2024.

After taking office, Faye appointed Sonko prime minister in April 2024, creating an unusual power arrangement in which many analysts believed Sonko remained the dominant political figure behind the scenes.

Over recent months, however, reports of disagreements between the two men intensified, particularly over how to tackle Senegal’s worsening debt crisis and economic pressures.

The conflict reached a breaking point on Friday when Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister and dissolved the cabinet, a move seen as an attempt to consolidate presidential authority and reassert control over government policy.

But lawmakers from Pastef, which holds 130 of the 165 seats in Senegal’s parliament, quickly rallied behind Sonko.

On Tuesday, legislators reinstated him as a member of parliament and then elected him speaker with 132 votes in favour. No lawmakers voted against him, while one abstained.

During the parliamentary session, Sonko received a lengthy standing ovation after the result was announced. He was the only candidate for the position.

Sonko replaces El Malick Ndiaye, a close ally who resigned as speaker on Sunday, paving the way for Sonko’s election to one of the country’s most influential institutional roles.

The development could significantly reshape Senegal’s political balance.

As speaker of parliament and undisputed leader of Pastef, Sonko now controls a major centre of political power outside the presidency, potentially allowing him to challenge or constrain Faye’s agenda from within the legislature.

Opposition leaders strongly criticised the process. Aissata Tall Sall, head of the main opposition bloc, described the move as an “institutional coup” and accused the ruling majority of imposing its will under political pressure.

She also questioned the legality of Sonko’s rapid return to parliament, arguing that he should have formally resigned as prime minister before reclaiming a legislative seat.

Meanwhile, President Faye has moved to stabilise the government by appointing senior economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo as the new prime minister.

Faye said the appointment reflected the urgent need for economic expertise as Senegal struggles with mounting public debt, fiscal strain and pressure to deliver promised reforms.

The standoff between Faye and Sonko now threatens to evolve into a broader institutional power struggle, raising uncertainty about the future direction of one of West Africa’s most closely watched democracies.