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Senegal’s National Assembly has elected former prime minister Ousmane Sonko as its new speaker, just days after he was sacked from office by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The voting happened on Tuesday in a session boycotted by opposition lawmakers, who described Sonko’s return as “illegal.”
Sonko, who leads the Pastef party, which controls 130 of 165 parliamentary seats, won 132 votes with no opposition and one abstention. He was the only candidate for the position.
Parliament session started at about 9:00 am local time with Sonko in attendance. He replaces El Malick Ndiaye, who resigned on Sunday.
Opposition leader Aissata Tall Sall on Monday called the move an “institutional coup,” which was prepared under “pressure that the majority wants to impose.” She also argued that Sonko should have formally resigned as prime minister before returning to parliament.
In 2024, President Faye appointed Sonko as prime minister but later sacked him after months of political tension. In just a few days, he named economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo as the new prime minister.
The new development comes during ongoing political uncertainty and economic challenges in Senegal.
