Senegal's Political Earthquake: Ousmane Sonko Elected Parliament Speaker Days After Being Fired as Prime Minister
Just four days after being dismissed as Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko was elected president of Senegal's National Assembly, becoming the second-highest figure in the state and opening a period of deep political uncertainty.
A swift and stunning return
In a dramatic political turnaround, Senegal's former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko was elected president of the National Assembly on Tuesday, 26 May, just four days after being dismissed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Sonko secured 132 of the 133 votes cast, with one abstention and no votes against, following a boycott by opposition deputies who decried the session as a "constitutional coup d'état." The election elevates Sonko to the position of second-highest personality in the state, replacing El Malick Ndiaye, who resigned from the post on Sunday.
The vote took place after Sonko reclaimed his parliamentary seat, a move the opposition argued violated internal regulations. Deputy Abdou Mbow told the press,
Despite the protest, Sonko's Pastef party holds 130 of the 165 seats in Parliament, ensuring his easy victory.We decided not to participate in this farce. Mr. Sonko lost his mandate as a deputy and cannot recover it.
A fractured alliance at the top
The rupture between Sonko and President Faye marks a stunning collapse of the alliance that brought them to power. Faye had originally run for president because Sonko was imprisoned at the time. After months of mounting public tensions, Faye dismissed Sonko over the weekend and on Monday appointed economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo as the new Prime Minister. The presidency stated the appointment aimed to "boost the implementation of national priorities, strengthen the effectiveness of public action, and accelerate reforms for the benefit of the Senegalese people."
Lo, 60, previously served as Secretary of State to the Presidency and was responsible for monitoring the Vision 2050 plan. He previously directed the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) from 2018 to 2023. In his first remarks, Lo acknowledged the difficult state of public finances, partly due to the conflict in the Middle East, and said the country is at a "turning point that requires the mobilization of the nation."
Sonko's message: cooperation with conditions
In his inaugural address, delivered partly in Wolof, Sonko struck a dual tone of conciliation and warning. He pledged not to use his new position to "organize institutional chaos, create an institutional crisis, or problems for the President of the Republic." He insisted no deputy would use the institution for a "personal vendetta."
However, he made clear the Assembly would not be a rubber stamp.
Sonko also criticized the executive for not consulting the Pastef party before appointing the new Prime Minister and forming a government, signaling that the power struggle is far from over.The National Assembly will not be a chamber of registration. It will responsibly use all levers of counter-power. We will vote for laws that conform to the general interest and reject those that do not.
An unprecedented cohabitation
Political analysts describe the emerging situation as an "unprecedented" cohabitation. Ellimane Haby Kane, head of the Legs Africa think tank, suggested Sonko is "putting on manners" but actually seeks to "control the executive." Gilles Yabi, founder of the citizen think tank Wathi, noted that Sonko's combative return places President Faye in a difficult position to govern and pass reforms at a time when Senegal faces serious economic difficulties, including public debt at 132% of GDP.
In all democracies, the executive cannot appoint a government without consulting the majority. It is the majority in the National Assembly that must govern.
What comes next
The immediate question is whether President Faye will dissolve the National Assembly and call early legislative elections to break the deadlock. A Pastef communiqué on Tuesday evening indicated that contacts had been made by the presidency with party members regarding government formation, but also set conditions for participation. The coming days will reveal whether the two former allies can forge a working relationship or whether Senegal is heading toward a prolonged institutional crisis.
- President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismisses Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko after months of tensions.
- El Malick Ndiaye resigns as president of the National Assembly, citing personal choice and the superior interest of the nation.
- Economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo is appointed as the new Prime Minister.
- Ousmane Sonko is elected president of the National Assembly with 132 votes, becoming the second-highest figure in the state.
