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The newly elected Speaker of Senegal’s National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko, has criticised the appointment of the country’s new prime minister, who was appointed following his dismissal.
Sonko, the ousted former Prime Minister and the leader of the PASTEF party, said his movement was not consulted before President Diomaye Faye appointed the new prime minister.
“Our political party was not involved in the consultations that led to the appointment of a prime minister. It is not, to this day, involved in the consultations for the formation of a government,” Sonko told lawmakers.
“Consequently, I would like to say that you cannot have Pastef without Pastef.”
Sonko described PASTEF as a unique force in the West African country’s political landscape, claiming it simultaneously wields influence in both the opposition and the governing majority.
“Pastef, which is the political party, and this is unprecedented in the political annals of this country and perhaps of the world, which is at once the majority force in the opposition and in power, remains open to a responsible discussion that sets egos aside in order to find ways and means for calm, peaceful governance,” he added.
The Senegalese President dismissed Sonko as prime minister and dissolved the cabinet four days ago, following months of mounting tensions and disagreements within the governing camp, including over Senegal’s struggling economy.
The opposition, which argues that Sonko’s return to parliament is illegal, boycotted the session by walking out of the chamber ahead of his address.
