Senegal’s National Assembly on Tuesday elected former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko as Speaker of Parliament in a vote boycotted by opposition lawmakers, days after he was dismissed from office by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Sonko’s election marks a swift political comeback, coming just four days after his removal as prime minister. Opposition legislators have described his return to the National Assembly as “illegal,” arguing that proper procedures were not followed.
The influential leader of the ruling Pastef party, which holds 130 of the 165 seats in parliament, secured 132 votes. No lawmaker voted against him, while one abstained. Sonko was the sole candidate for the position.
His election was met with a prolonged standing ovation from lawmakers. He succeeds El Malick Ndiaye, a close ally who resigned on Sunday, paving the way for Sonko’s emergence as speaker.
The parliamentary session began shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time, with Sonko present in the chamber.
Opposition leader Aissata Tall Sall condemned the development, describing it as an “institutional coup” and accusing the ruling majority of imposing its will on state institutions.
Sall argued that Sonko should have first resigned as prime minister and formally reclaimed his parliamentary seat before seeking election as speaker.
President Faye appointed Sonko prime minister in April 2024 after winning the presidential election a month earlier. Faye’s rise to power was closely linked to Sonko, his political mentor, who was barred from contesting the presidency because of a defamation conviction.
The political reshuffle comes as Senegal grapples with mounting economic challenges and public debt concerns. On Monday, Faye appointed senior economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo as the country’s new prime minister, citing his expertise in steering the nation through its economic difficulties.
AFP
