A swift political reshuffle has gripped Senegal, marked by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s recent dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. This significant move, occurring on Friday, May 22, signals a rupture that had become increasingly inevitable amidst escalating political tensions and overt disagreements between the two leading figures of the executive branch in the Land of Teranga.

In a related development, the President of the National Assembly, Malick Ndiaye, announced his resignation from the parliamentary leadership. This scenario appears strategically orchestrated to pave the way for the former Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, who has requested to reclaim his mandate as a deputy within the national representation.

the political divide deepens

The Parliament is scheduled to convene in an extraordinary session on May 26 to elect its new president. All indications suggest that, barring an unforeseen political earthquake, the former mayor of Ziguinchor, Ousmane Sonko – who was controversially removed from the premiership – is poised to assume leadership of the Parliament. This strategic move would allow him to continue his power struggle with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a key development in current African affairs.

The pressing question now is: how far will this clash between the two former allies extend? This query gains particular weight given that, beyond the former National Assembly President’s resignation (which appears to be a gesture of loyalty towards Sonko), Ousmane Sonko is expected to easily secure the Speaker’s position if he desires. The ruling Pastef party (Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l’éthique et la fraternité), of which Sonko remains the prominent figure, commands a substantial majority with no fewer than 130 out of 165 deputies in Parliament.

This highlights the critical importance of Tuesday’s session, which offers the former Prime Minister a clear path to remain central to the nation’s political landscape and high-level decision-making by becoming the head of Parliament. This is a highly strategic role, especially as the divide appears to have widened between the Thiès native and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who is reportedly keen to assert his own authority and step out of his former mentor’s shadow. This dynamic is closely watched across the continent news landscape.

sonko’s potential to influence governance

Nevertheless, this clash of ambitions between former comrades, now at the pinnacle of state power, raises concerns that Senegal could face an institutional crisis. This risk is particularly acute if, as the scenario suggests, Ousmane Sonko is elected President of the National Assembly following the session on May 26. Such an outcome would establish him as the second-highest ranking state official and the constitutional successor to the President.

This powerful position could potentially be leveraged at any moment to impede government actions through legislative control. It is difficult to predict the extent of the rivalry between the two leaders of the ruling party. Should they fail to exercise caution, this situation risks negatively impacting the party’s cohesion. Indeed, with these two prominent figures in open conflict, one might wonder if Pastef is prematurely undermining its own foundation, a significant point for African governance observers.

It is evident that since their ascent to power, Ousmane Sonko has been eager to assume the presidency himself, having propelled Bassirou Diomaye Faye into the role under circumstances where Sonko was ineligible for the 2024 presidential election due to a May 2023 appeal conviction. This makes for compelling Africa breaking news.

All signs suggest that by now entering open conflict with the head of state, Sonko not only intends to escape the President’s shadow but also believes he possesses sufficient influence to pursue his presidential ambitions, overcoming the judicial obstacle he faced in 2024.

a delicate power balance

This ambition is further fueled by the new electoral code, which passed smoothly on May 12. This revision aims to clarify eligibility criteria and prevent the disqualification of candidates for political reasons, though some opposition figures viewed it as a move to facilitate the candidacies of both Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

While Sonko, a fierce opponent of former President Macky Sall, can still boast considerable popularity within the party he founded, his eligibility for the next presidential election, scheduled for March 2029, remains uncertain until the Constitutional Council issues its ruling on the matter.

Should the rivalry between these two influential figures at the highest echelons of the state intensify, it could devolve into a precarious