Senegal’s assembly elects former PM Ousmane Sonko as president amid political tensions

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.