Just four days after being removed from the Prime Minister’s office by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko has been elected President of Senegal’s National Assembly.
The parliamentary session took place amid high political tensions, with opposition lawmakers boycotting the proceedings entirely. Critics have condemned the move as an unconstitutional power grab, escalating the already fraught political climate.
Despite recent friction between Sonko and the Head of State—both from the Pastef party—the outgoing Prime Minister secured overwhelming support from his party’s deputies. With 130 out of 165 seats in the Assembly, the Pastef holds a commanding majority, ensuring Sonko’s swift rise to the Assembly’s top post.
The election marks Sonko’s dramatic return to the forefront of Senegalese politics. As the results were announced, he received a rousing ovation from fellow Pastef lawmakers, signaling renewed momentum for his political agenda.
Sonko now takes the helm from El Malick Ndiaye, who tendered his resignation just two days prior to the vote.
