A significant shift is unfolding in Senegal’s political arena following the sudden resignation of National Assembly President El Malick Ndiaye on Sunday. This move could soon allow opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to reclaim his parliamentary seat—just days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye removed him from the prime minister’s office.
In a brief statement shared on Facebook, Ndiaye cited his commitment to institutional integrity and the nation’s best interests as the reasons behind his decision, though he did not elaborate further. A longtime ally of Sonko, Ndiaye had held the Assembly presidency since the Pastef party secured a landslide victory in the 2024 legislative elections, winning 130 out of 165 seats.
Lawmakers have been summoned for a full-session vote on Tuesday to first reinstate Sonko as a deputy and then elect a new Assembly president. If successful, this process would significantly amplify the influence of the Pastef leader, whose popularity remains strong among a broad segment of Senegalese citizens.
Earlier, on Friday, President Faye dismissed Sonko from the prime minister’s role, signaling a sharp political divide between the two figures who had jointly risen to power in April 2024. Sonko, barred from running in the presidential race due to a past conviction, had backed Faye’s candidacy under the campaign slogan « Diomaye Moy Sonko » (Diomaye is Sonko).
Public tensions between the two leaders have intensified in recent months. Sonko has repeatedly accused President Faye of weak leadership and criticized delays in prosecuting figures from former President Macky Sall’s administration for alleged corruption.
Meanwhile, President Faye has pushed back against Sonko’s growing dominance within both the government and the ruling party. The rift deepened after Sonko publicly challenged the management of political funds during a parliamentary address.
Despite his removal from government, Sonko continues to command significant public support. Hundreds of his supporters gathered outside his Dakar home on Friday evening, turning his dismissal into a rallying point for grassroots backing.
With the political landscape now in flux, President Faye faces the urgent task of appointing a new prime minister—a decision that will require parliamentary approval in an increasingly unpredictable environment.
