Former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko is set to enter Senegal’s National Assembly after being dismissed from his government post on May 23, 2026.
On May 26 at 9:00 AM, lawmakers will convene to officially welcome Sonko as a deputy and to elect a new Assembly president, according to a letter from First Vice President Ismaila Diallo.
This follows the resignation of Sonko’s ally El Malick Ndiaye, who stepped down as Assembly president on May 24. Reports suggest the move was designed to give Sonko a chance to contest for the leadership of parliament.
Sonko’s party, Pastef, holds a majority in the Assembly, raising the possibility of him becoming Speaker. If elected, it would set up a direct confrontation with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, once his close friend but now a political rival.
The rift between Sonko and Faye stems from disagreements over governance. Sonko accuses Faye of failing to tackle corruption linked to former President Macky Sall, insisting Sall should face justice. He also criticizes Faye for not addressing Senegal’s debt crisis and for refusing to support certain government decisions that opposition groups had demanded.
If Sonko secures the Assembly presidency, Senegal could face a new era of political tension, with the executive and legislature led by former allies turned adversaries.