Senegal’s former prime minister Ousmane Sonko elected president of the National Assembly

The National Assembly of Senegal has elected former prime minister Ousmane Sonko as its new president in a session boycotted by the opposition. The vote followed his dismissal from the prime minister’s position just four days earlier by the head of state, sparking a wave of political controversy.

Opposition factions, which had already criticized the process, described the move as a constitutional coup. They argue that the circumstances surrounding Sonko’s election violate democratic norms and disrupt the balance of power in the country.

This political shift comes at a critical moment for Senegal, as it grapples with internal divisions and the challenges of maintaining stability in the region.