Senegal’s sacked PM Sonko elected parliamentary Speaker in challenge to president

Senegal's sacked PM Sonko elected parliamentary Speaker in challenge to president

Senegal’s former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who was dramatically sacked on Friday by the president, has been elected Speaker of the national parliament setting up a possible source of conflict at the top of Senegalese politics. The West African nation’s current crisis follows months of tension between Sonko and his one-time ally President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Parliament’s previous Speaker stepped down on Sunday to make way for the former prime minister, who is a popular figure and whose Pastef party has a majority of the seats in the National Assembly.

On Monday, Faye appointed economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo to replace Sonko as prime minister.

Relations between the president and his former prime minister had been deteriorating for months, with Sonko openly criticising Faye for his handling of Senegal’s debt problems.

Sonko’s position as Speaker – the second highest political position in the country – could limit President Faye’s ability to manoeuvre if he fails to secure parliamentary support for his policies, analysts say.

The president cannot dissolve parliament until at least two years after the last election – that means any move to prematurely end the mandates of lawmakers before November this year would be considered invalid.

The rift between Faye and Sonko further raises uncertainty over the political future of the debt-challenged country, which is no stranger to leadership tussles.

The 51-year-old ex-prime minister commands massive support across the country, especially among young people.

As an opposition MP he was renowned for fiercely challenging former President Macky Sall’s policies – a trait which he also demonstrated against his boss Faye.

Sonko would almost certainly have taken the top job had he not been barred from running in 2024’s presidential election because of a defamation conviction.

By BBC News