Ousmane Sonko was elected Speaker of National Assembly of Senegal on Tuesday in a vote boycotted by opposition lawmakers, deepening political tensions just days after his dismissal as prime minister.
Sonko’s emergence as head of parliament comes four days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye removed him from office, a move that triggered fresh controversy over his swift return to the legislature.
Opposition parties described Sonko’s reinstatement to the National Assembly as “illegal,” insisting that due constitutional procedures were not followed.
Despite the backlash, Sonko remains the dominant figure within the ruling Pastef party, which controls 130 of the 165 seats in Senegal’s unicameral parliament.
The former prime minister received a standing ovation after securing 132 votes in the parliamentary ballot. No lawmaker voted against him, while one abstained, according to the session’s presiding officer, Ismael Diallo. Sonko was the sole candidate for the position.
He succeeds El Malick Ndiaye, a close ally who resigned on Sunday, paving the way for Sonko’s elevation to the role.
The parliamentary session commenced shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time, with Sonko present in the chamber.
Leading opposition figure Aissata Tall Sall condemned the process as an “institutional coup,” alleging that the ruling majority imposed Sonko’s return under political pressure.
Sall argued that Sonko should have formally resigned as prime minister and temporarily resumed his legislative seat before any reappointment process.
President Faye appointed Sonko as prime minister in April 2024 after winning the presidential election the previous month.
Faye is widely seen as having risen to power with Sonko’s backing, as the former opposition leader was barred from contesting the presidency following a defamation conviction.
The Senegalese president now faces mounting economic and political pressures as his administration seeks to implement reforms amid rising debt and economic challenges.
On Monday, Faye appointed senior economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo as the country’s new prime minister, citing his expertise in addressing Senegal’s economic difficulties.
