Just four days after being abruptly removed from his role as prime minister by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko has secured the presidency of Senegal’s National Assembly.
The parliamentary session unfolded amid palpable political tensions, with opposition lawmakers boycotting the vote entirely. Critics condemned the move as an unconstitutional power grab, escalating the already fraught political climate.
Despite recent public rifts between Sonko and the head of state—both members of the Pastef party—the former prime minister received overwhelming backing from his party’s parliamentarians. Pastef commands a supermajority in the assembly with 130 out of 165 seats, ensuring Sonko’s swift election.
His ascension to the assembly’s top post signals a dramatic resurgence in Senegal’s political arena. Upon the announcement of his victory, Sonko was greeted with enthusiastic applause from his party colleagues.
Sonko now replaces El Malick Ndiaye, who had tendered his resignation earlier in the week.
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