Senegal’s parliament elected former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko as speaker on Tuesday, a move that could give him a powerful platform to challenge President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The speaker of parliament El Malick Ndiaye had resigned on Sunday in a move analysts said was to clear the way for Ousmane Sonko to run for the post of head of parliament, where his Pastef party holds a strong majority.
MPs were called for a full session of the assembly on Tuesday, where Sonko was reinstated as an MP and then elected the parliament’s speaker.
However, Senegal opposition boycotted the parliament’s session.
President Faye dismissed Sonko on Friday and dissolved the government. He appointed seasoned economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as the country’s new prime minister on Monday.
The president’s decision came after months of political tensions with Sonko, his former close ally, with whose support he came to power after defeating the ruling party in 2024.
