The Senegalese National Assembly is set to review the re-integration of former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko as a deputy this Tuesday, May 26. This pivotal move could pave his way to assume the leadership of the Parliament. However, the opposition vehemently accuses the ruling majority of orchestrating an “institutional coup d’état” through this process.
A swift ascent after his dismissal
Just days after his dismissal last Friday by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, following months of simmering tensions at the highest echelons of government, Ousmane Sonko appears poised for a swift political resurgence. The legislative body has been convened for a morning session on Tuesday to vote on his “re-integration” as a parliamentarian, a crucial step preceding the election of a new National Assembly president. The path for the former head of government was further cleared on Sunday when El Malick Ndiaye, a close associate of Mr. Sonko and the incumbent president of the institution, tendered his resignation. Sonko’s Pastef party commands a significant majority within the Assembly, holding 130 out of 165 seats.
The opposition challenges the procedure
However, the leading opposition coalition asserts that this proposed re-integration fundamentally disregards established institutional protocols. During a press conference held on Monday, Deputy Aïssata Tall Sall sharply condemned the move, characterizing it as an “institutional coup d’état” and an aggressive “power play” by the presidential majority. She argued that Ousmane Sonko should have formally relinquished his Prime Ministerial duties before any official re-installation as a deputy, even on a temporary basis, could occur. The opposition is now urging President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to refer this legal dispute to the Constitutional Council for a definitive ruling.
A now strained relationship with Bassirou Diomaye Faye
Previously barred from contesting the 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction, Ousmane Sonko had endorsed his close ally, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to represent the Pastef party. Mr. Faye’s subsequent election to the presidency heralded the ascent of a political duo that enjoyed immense popularity, particularly among Senegal’s youth. Yet, as the months progressed, clear divergences emerged between the two leaders, culminating in Mr. Sonko’s dismissal last Friday.
