Senegal political shake-up as assembly president steps down

Major political shift in Senegal as Assembly President resigns

The political landscape in Senegal is undergoing rapid transformation as the nation grapples with a fresh crisis. Just two days after Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko was removed from office, Malick Ndiaye, President of the National Assembly, announced his resignation from the parliamentary leadership on Sunday, May 25. This move came shortly after a critical meeting of the Pastef party, to which he belongs.

In a statement on Facebook, Ndiaye explained his decision, stating, “After deep reflection and guided by a sense of duty and national interest, I have chosen to step down from my position as President of Senegal’s National Assembly. This decision stems from my personal conviction regarding institutional integrity, public responsibility, and the greater good of the nation.”

Since assuming the Assembly’s presidency, Ndiaye has worked tirelessly alongside deputies and parliamentary staff to strengthen the institution, enhance transparency, and elevate Senegal’s Parliament on both national and international stages.

Meanwhile, the Assembly also reinstated Deputy Ousmane Sonko on the same day. Following this, a new election for the Assembly’s leadership was scheduled for Tuesday, May 26. Observers now anticipate Sonko, leader of Pastef, to secure the position, given his party’s strong parliamentary majority. In a remarkable turn of events, Sonko could transition from a dismissed Prime Minister to the country’s second-highest-ranking official within just 72 hours.

With these developments, Senegal appears to be shifting from a Bassirou Diomaye Faye–Ousmane Sonko partnership to a more complex political rivalry. The coming months will likely be defined by shifting alliances, strategic maneuvers, and power struggles, especially with local elections on the horizon and the 2029 presidential race approaching.

One pressing question remains unanswered: Will President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dissolve the National Assembly once the constitutional deadline expires in December? Until then, Senegal remains in suspense as it awaits the appointment of a new Prime Minister, tasked with forming a government amid heightened political tensions.