Four days after being dismissed as Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko has been elected President of the National Assembly of Senegal. The vote was held in a session boycotted by the opposition, who labeled the move an institutional coup.
Key points
- Ousmane Sonko secured 132 out of 133 votes cast, with his party, the Pastef (Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l'éthique et la fraternité), holding 130 of the 165 parliamentary seats.
- The election followed the resignation of El Malick Ndiaye, who stepped down to facilitate Ousmane Sonko's return to the legislature.
- Opposition leaders have challenged the legality of the appointment, citing potential conflicts with parliamentary regulations regarding the incompatibility of roles.
- President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has reportedly referred the matter to the Constitutional Council to verify the legality of the process.
Why it matters
The election marks a significant shift in Senegal's power dynamics, signaling a potential power struggle between the executive branch and the legislative leadership.
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