Senegal’s former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has been elected Speaker of the National Assembly, days after being removed from office by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, deepening tensions at the top of the country’s political leadership.
Sonko, a key figure in the ruling Pastef party, was elected on Monday after the previous Speaker stepped down on Sunday to pave the way for his emergence in parliament, where his party holds a majority of seats.
His appointment to the influential post comes amid an escalating political rift between him and President Faye, with whom he once formed a close alliance.
The disagreement between the two leaders has been building for months, particularly over the government’s handling of Senegal’s growing debt challenges, which Sonko has publicly criticised.
In a related development, President Faye appointed economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as the new Prime Minister following Sonko’s exit from the role.
Analysts say Sonko’s new position as Speaker—the second-highest office in the country’s political hierarchy—could significantly complicate the president’s ability to push through legislation without parliamentary backing.
Under Senegalese law, the president cannot dissolve parliament until at least two years after the last election, limiting options for any early political reset.
The growing divide between the two leaders has raised concerns about political stability in the West African nation, which has a history of leadership tensions.
Sonko remains a highly influential political figure with strong support among young voters and was previously barred from contesting the 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction.
