Ousmane Sonko, the former Prime Minister of Senegal who was recently removed from office, has made a political comeback after being elected Speaker of the National Assembly on 26 May 2026.
Sonko was dismissed from his position on 22 May by the Head of State, but he had already indicated that he could return to Parliament as a member of the legislature.
Just two days later, on 24 May, El Malick Ndiaye resigned from his position as Speaker of Parliament, opening the way for Sonko’s return. Ndiaye is considered a close ally of Sonko within the ruling Pastef party.
On 26 May, lawmakers voted to reinstate Sonko as a Member of Parliament and later endorsed him as the sole candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly. His nomination was met with strong support inside the chamber.
In the final vote, Sonko secured 132 votes out of 133 cast, winning the position by an overwhelming margin.
Following the announcement of the results, MPs stood up to applaud the decision, while Sonko also rose to acknowledge the moment, reflecting a strong show of unity in the assembly.
His election comes shortly after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye appointed a new Prime Minister, Ahamadou Alhaminou Mohamed Lô, on 25 May.
Political tensions between President Faye and Sonko have reportedly been growing over governance issues, raising questions about the future relationship between the two leaders in Senegal’s political landscape.
