Ousmane Sonko, di former Prime Minister wey dem sack on May 22, don become di new President of di National Assembly for Senegal. Di election happun on May 26, 2026 for Dakar, and he get 132 votes out of 133 wey dem cast. One person abstain and nobody vote against am. But about 30 opposition members no dey present because dem dey challenge di legality of im return as MP.
Sonko take over from Malick Ndiaye, wey resign on May 24. Dis election mark new chapter for di reshuffling of state leadership, especially after Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô don become di new head of government on May 25.
Di former PM don come back strong for Assembly and now be di second most important person for state. All members of im party, di Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics, and Fraternity (Pastef), vote for am. Dis happen even though he get differences with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, wey come from di same party.
Immediately after im election, Sonko make long speech under applause from Pastef MPs, wey hold 130 out of 165 seats. Many of dem wear white cloth and dey show joy. He try to calm di executive, say im regime go be about strict control, not vendetta, blockage, or chaos. He say, ‘I no go use dis institution for personal vendetta. Wetin dey at stake pass individual matters; e be about di relationship between morality and politics.’
He also talk say Pastef remain open for dialogue. He explain say di party, wey dey both majority for opposition and for government for di first time for Senegal history, dey ready for responsible discussion wey go put aside ego and find way to finish di mandate well. He add say di discussion go focus on orientation and program, not on individuals, and dem must agree with di president to continue to support am peacefully. He stress say Senegal no fit get hyper-presidential system now.
Despite di calming words, Sonko fire some small shots at President Faye. He praise di appointment of Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô as new PM, calling am competent, hardworking, and dedicated. But he note say dem get differences on debt management and monetary system. He also complain say im party no dey consulted for di appointment of di new PM or for consultations on new government. He declare, ‘You no fit do Pastef without Pastef.’ Still, he say he open for ‘responsible discussion’ with di executive, ‘despite dis false start.’
Senegal now dey find way back to more peaceful operation of institutions. But di election of Sonko dey face legal challenge. 32 opposition MPs out of 165 noisily leave di chamber during di vote, rejecting di legality of Sonko’s return as MP because he was previously head of government and suppose to lose im elective mandate from November 2024 legislative elections. But since Pastef dominate di chamber, di vote continue.
For Pastef, spokesperson Marie Rose Faye say as long as di political bureau of Assembly don validate di regularity of Sonko’s reinstatement as MP, di procedure dey ‘perfectly legal.’
