Political plot against Ousmane Sonko’s parliamentary reinstatement

Ousmane Sonko, leader of the PASTEF party, has sharply criticized the recent move by opposition lawmakers and independents to challenge his reinstatement as a member of the National Assembly through the Constitutional Council. Speaking to the press, the parliamentary majority leader framed the initiative as a deliberate political ploy aimed at obstructing his path back to office.

« This is nothing short of calculated scheming, » Sonko declared, accusing his adversaries of orchestrating maneuvers rooted in malice. « The Constitutional Council filing is a direct product of this mindset. Those who initiated this appeal were fully aware it falls outside the Council’s jurisdiction. » He further condemned what he described as the blatant misuse of state institutions for partisan gain.

At the core of this legal standoff lies a dispute over the interpretation of constitutional provisions. A coalition of parliamentarians invoked Article 54 of the Constitution to petition for the nullification of Sonko’s parliamentary mandate. Their argument hinges on the claim that his reinstatement as a deputy violates constitutional norms, asserting that his dual role as Prime Minister and elected lawmaker in 2024 created an irreconcilable conflict of interest from the outset.

The opposing lawmakers had previously issued a statement on June 1, 2026, announcing their formal appeal to the highest judicial body to overturn the Assembly Bureau’s decision of May 24, which had reinstated Sonko as a deputy. In response, Sonko delivered a stern warning, signaling that any attempt to leverage state power against him would be met with equal legal force. « If they resort to institutional coercion, » he asserted, « we will deploy every constitutional recourse available to defend our position. »