Senegal’s political crisis escalates as Ousmane Sonko, dismissed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye earlier in the dispute between the two former allies, is reinstated to parliament and elected speaker of the National Assembly. On Sunday, the speaker El Malick Ndiaye steps down, which clears the way for Sonko—sacked two days earlier—to seek the role. Multiple outlets report that Sonko’s Pastef party holds a strong majority in the legislature.
On Tuesday, the National Assembly reinstates Sonko as a member and then appoints him speaker following a vote that opposition lawmakers boycott, according to reports from several outlets. BBC and RFI describe the election as a direct challenge to the president, with the speaker position giving Sonko a platform to scrutinise and contest government policy. France 24 and other sources also note the wider context of the split within the ruling bloc and ongoing tensions over reforms, including measures linked to Senegal’s debt.
The election is reported to be decisive, with one outlet citing 132 votes for Sonko out of 133 cast.
