By Wilber Tumutegyereize
DAKAR, Senegal — In a political twist few saw coming, Ousmane Sonko has completed one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent African politics, securing election as President of Senegal’s National Assembly just four days after being dismissed as Prime Minister by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The extraordinary turnaround has intensified an already explosive power struggle at the heart of Senegal’s ruling coalition and raised questions about who truly controls the country’s political future.
Sonko, leader of the ruling PASTEF party, was overwhelmingly elected Speaker of Parliament on Tuesday after lawmakers first reinstated his parliamentary seat before immediately elevating him to the top legislative office. According to multiple reports, he secured 132 votes in the 165-seat chamber, where PASTEF commands a dominant majority of around 130 seats.
The move came despite last-minute attempts by President Faye’s camp to block the process through Senegal’s Constitutional Council. The court reportedly declined to intervene, describing the matter as an internal parliamentary affair.
The result leaves Senegal in an unprecedented situation: the president and the man he just fired now occupy the two most powerful positions in the state.
From Kingmaker to Rival Power Center
The split between Faye and Sonko has shocked many Senegalese observers because the two men rose to power together.
When Sonko was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election due to legal troubles, Bassirou Diomaye Faye became the movement’s candidate and ultimately won the presidency with Sonko’s backing. After taking office, Faye appointed Sonko as Prime Minister, creating what many believed would be a united reformist government under the PASTEF banner.
But tensions between the two allies reportedly escalated over Senegal’s worsening economic crisis, debt management strategy, and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Last week, President Faye abruptly dismissed Sonko and dissolved the government, appointing economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as the new Prime Minister in an effort to reassure investors and stabilize the country’s finances.
Instead of fading politically, Sonko responded with a rapid and calculated counter-move.
By taking control of the National Assembly, he now gains a powerful institutional platform capable of shaping legislation, influencing oversight investigations, and challenging executive decisions from within the state apparatus itself.
Political analysts say the development effectively creates a dual-power structure inside Senegal’s government.
Opposition Cries “Power Grab”
Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote and questioned the legality of Sonko’s reinstatement as a member of parliament. Critics also raised concerns about constitutional provisions governing the separation of powers and accused PASTEF of consolidating authority across state institutions.
Yet with its overwhelming parliamentary majority, the ruling party faced little resistance in pushing the process through.
For Sonko’s supporters, however, the moment represents political survival at its highest level.
Only days ago, many believed the firebrand politician had been sidelined by his former protégé. Instead, he has emerged with direct control over parliament while retaining enormous influence within PASTEF’s grassroots movement.
In the eyes of many Senegalese observers, Sonko did not fall from power — he simply changed the battlefield.
Economic Stakes Rising
The political showdown comes at a delicate moment for Senegal’s economy.
The country is grappling with mounting debt pressures after revelations of previously undisclosed liabilities complicated negotiations with the IMF. International investors are watching developments closely, with reports indicating that Senegalese bonds have already come under pressure following the government shake-up.
Analysts warn that prolonged tensions between the presidency and parliament could complicate economic reforms and delay critical financial agreements.
Still, neither side appears ready to back down.
What began as an internal disagreement between two revolutionary allies is rapidly evolving into a high-stakes contest over the future direction of Senegal — one that could define the country’s politics for years to come.
For now, the political chessboard in Dakar remains fully in play.
