Sonko tipped to take Senegal parliament leadership amid power struggle

Dakar braces for a pivotal session of the National Assembly today as lawmakers prepare to reinstate Ousmane Sonko as a deputy and elect a new speaker. The opposition has already raised alarms over what it calls an unconstitutional maneuver, setting the stage for a showdown in Senegal’s political landscape.

Outside Sonko’s residence in the Cité Keur Gorgui neighborhood, supporters of the Pastef-Les Patriotes party gathered, chanting his name in defiance of recent developments. Among them was Nourdine Diallo, a longtime campaigner who had stumped for the Diomaye-Sonko ticket during last year’s elections. His optimism has now given way to disillusionment.

“The dismissal of Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister struck a deep blow to our movement. We campaigned on the slogan ‘Diomaye is Sonko, Sonko is Diomaye’—not as empty words, but as a lived reality. We told Senegalese voters that these two leaders were bound by brotherhood, party loyalty, and institutional partnership.”

A clash of institutions

Sonko’s abrupt removal from office followed a tense appearance before lawmakers during the government’s regular question-and-answer session, where he openly challenged key policies of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. What began as a political disagreement has now escalated into a full-blown institutional standoff.

Today’s assembly session carries two critical items on its agenda: the reinstatement of Sonko as a deputy—he had suspended his parliamentary mandate to serve as Prime Minister—and the election of a new speaker to replace El Hadj Malick Ndiaye, who resigned abruptly on Sunday. Ndiaye, a staunch Sonko ally, stepped down hours after his mentor was dismissed from the premiership.

Should Sonko reclaim his seat and secure the speakership, he would ascend to the second-highest office in the land. Political analyst Malao Kanté warns this outcome could deepen the rift between former allies and destabilize governance.

“While Ousmane Sonko may represent a fresh face for the opposition, his party now commands a parliamentary majority—creating a paradox with high stakes. The risk of a no-confidence motion against the next Prime Minister looms large, threatening to paralyze state functions and plunge Senegal into administrative gridlock.”

Opposition cries foul over Sonko’s parliamentary return

Adama Fall, a senior figure within Pastef-Les Patriotes, has urged the nation to prioritize unity over personal ambitions. Speaking to reporters, he drew parallels with historic power struggles in Africa, from Burkina Faso’s Blaise Compaoré to Senegal’s own Mamadou Dia and Léopold Sédar Senghor, but stressed that today’s generation demands a different outcome.

“History may rhyme, but it doesn’t repeat itself blindly. We are a conscious generation, and this chapter must be written with wisdom and accountability. Senegal will not relive the mistakes of the past—it will forge a new path forward.”

The proposed reinstatement has triggered shockwaves within Pastef. Multiple party officials and administrative leaders have resigned in solidarity with Sonko, underscoring the depth of the divide. Meanwhile, the opposition parliamentary group Takuu Walu has rejected El Hadj Malick Ndiaye’s resignation letter, deeming it invalid for violating internal assembly rules.

Aïssata Tall Sall, leader of the opposition caucus, went further, calling on President Faye to refer the matter to the Constitutional Council. She alleges a constitutional coup is underway and warns that inaction could embolden Sonko to target the presidency itself.

In a late-night move, President Faye appointed banking veteran Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô as the new Prime Minister. A former central bank executive and minister in the presidential office, Lô has pledged to steer Senegal through what he describes as a decisive turning point, urging national unity.