A significant shift is unfolding in Senegal’s political landscape following the Sunday resignation of El Malick Ndiaye, the National Assembly president. This unexpected departure could pave the way for former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to assume leadership of the legislative body, merely days after his dismissal from the government by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

In a statement shared on Facebook, El Malick Ndiaye cited his vision for institutional integrity and the nation’s paramount interests as the basis for his decision, offering no further specifics. A steadfast ally of Sonko, Ndiaye had presided over the Assembly since the Pastef party’s commanding victory in the 2024 legislative elections, where it secured 130 out of 165 seats.

Lawmakers are scheduled to convene on Tuesday for a plenary session, with an agenda focused on validating Ousmane Sonko’s reinstatement as a deputy, followed by the election of a new National Assembly president. This potential move would significantly amplify the influence of the Pastef leader, who continues to command substantial popularity among a wide segment of the Senegalese populace.

Just last Friday, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye terminated his Prime Minister’s tenure, signaling a pronounced 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 thrown his full support behind Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s candidacy, famously rallying under the banner «Diomaye Moy Sonko».

For several months, the underlying tensions between the two prominent leaders had increasingly surfaced publicly. Sonko, in particular, had voiced criticism regarding what he perceived as the head of state’s lack of decisive authority and had openly decried the sluggish pace of legal proceedings initiated against officials from the former Macky Sall administration, who faced accusations of corruption.

Conversely, President Faye had expressed concerns over Sonko’s expanding influence within both the government and the ruling majority party. The chasm between them deepened further following fresh criticisms articulated by the former Prime Minister in the National Assembly concerning the handling of political funds.

Even after his removal from the executive branch, Ousmane Sonko undeniably maintains a formidable political presence. On Friday evening, hundreds of his fervent supporters converged outside his Dakar residence, effectively transforming his dismissal into a powerful display of widespread popular backing.

President Faye now faces the critical task of appointing a new Prime Minister, a choice that will require the endorsement of deputies amidst a political climate that has grown exceptionally unpredictable.