The Constitutional Council ruled it was “not competent” to review a lawsuit filed by the opposition contesting Ousmane Sonko’s reinstatement to the National Assembly and subsequent election as Speaker.

Sonko, a charismatic leader of the Pastef party—which holds a commanding majority in Parliament—was reinstated to the Assembly shortly after his dismissal as Prime Minister, later securing the Speaker’s position.

No legal recourse remains for opponents

His election faced opposition claims that his reinstatement breached parliamentary procedures and amounted to an “institutional coup”.

With the Council’s ruling, no further challenges can be pursued. Sonko, barred from the 2024 presidential race, became Prime Minister in April 2024 following the victory of his ally, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, in the presidential election.

As Pastef’s top candidate, Sonko secured 130 of 165 seats in the November 2024 legislative elections but resigned his parliamentary mandate to remain in government.

“We won’t endorse this charade”

Opposition figures argued Sonko should have resigned as Prime Minister before reclaiming his seat, a temporary requirement before returning to government. The ruling party countered that “someone who has already lost their mandate cannot regain it”.

Opposition lawmaker Abdou Mbow declared in late April: “We won’t associate ourselves with this charade.” Now, with the Council’s decision, Sonko remains Speaker, potentially wielding influence against President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, his former ally with whom relations have soured.