Sénégal’s political scene is undergoing another significant change. Sunday saw the resignation of National Assembly President El Malick Ndiaye. This development could open the door for former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to assume leadership of the Parliament, coming just days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye removed him from his prime ministerial post.
El Malick Ndiaye announced his departure on Facebook, stating his decision stemmed from his institutional vision and the nation’s best interests, though he offered no further specifics. A staunch ally of Sonko, Ndiaye had presided over the Assembly since Pastef’s overwhelming victory in the 2024 legislative elections, where the party secured 130 out of 165 seats.
Lawmakers are scheduled to convene a plenary session on Tuesday. Their agenda includes reviewing Ousmane Sonko’s potential reinstatement as a deputy, followed by the election of a new National Assembly president. This move is expected to substantially bolster the influence of the Pastef leader, who continues to command significant popularity among a large segment of the Senegalese populace.
Just last Friday, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye terminated his Prime Minister’s tenure, signaling a political rift between the two figures who had, remarkably, ascended to power together in April 2024. Ousmane Sonko, having been barred from contesting the presidential election due to a judicial conviction, had previously championed Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s candidacy with the popular slogan « Diomaye Moy Sonko ».
For several months, the strain between these two prominent leaders had been openly apparent. Sonko, in particular, criticized the head of state for perceived indecisiveness and lambasted the sluggish pace of legal proceedings initiated against officials from the previous Macky Sall administration, who faced allegations of corruption.
Conversely, President Faye voiced concerns over Sonko’s increasing prominence within both the government and the ruling party. The chasm between them widened further following fresh criticisms from the former Prime Minister in the National Assembly concerning the handling of political funds.
Despite his removal from the cabinet, Ousmane Sonko maintains considerable political sway. On Friday evening, hundreds of his supporters converged outside his residence in Dakar, effectively transforming his dismissal into a powerful display of public backing.
President Faye now faces the task of appointing a new Prime Minister, a selection that will require parliamentary endorsement amidst a political landscape that has grown notably volatile.