From dismissal to potential presidency in record time

Ousmane Sonko’s political career could be experiencing a dramatic rebound just days after his abrupt dismissal by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The National Assembly has been summoned to vote on his reinstatement as a deputy before electing a new speaker. The move follows the Sunday resignation of Assembly President El Malick Ndiaye, a close ally of Sonko, which clears the path for the former premier. With 130 out of 165 seats, the Pastef party, led by Sonko, holds a commanding majority in the legislature.

Opposition cries foul over procedural irregularities

Opposition leaders have condemned the reinstatement process as legally dubious and politically motivated. During a press briefing on Monday, lawmaker Aïssata Tall Sall accused the ruling majority of orchestrating an institutional coup by fast-tracking Sonko’s return to parliament. She argued that Sonko should have formally resigned as Prime Minister before being reinstated as a deputy, even temporarily. The opposition is now urging President Faye to refer the matter to the Constitutional Council to resolve the legal dispute.

Fractures emerge in the once-united political tandem

Ousmane Sonko, who was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction, had backed his ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye as the Pastef party’s candidate. Faye’s subsequent victory was fueled by strong youth support across Senegal. However, tensions between the two leaders have escalated over recent months, culminating in Sonko’s dismissal last Friday.