Sonko National Assembly takeover looms as Ousmane Sonko set for key parliamentary role amid political tensions with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye

Ousmane Sonko, leader of Senegal’s ruling PASTEF movement and former prime minister, is expected to assume a dominant leadership position within the National Assembly of Senegal in Dakar on Sunday, 24 May 2026, as his party moves to consolidate its strong parliamentary majority in what is shaping up to be a significant institutional shift.

Also read: Senegal revokes Prince Arthur Eze’s offshore oil licence

The unfolding Sonko National Assembly takeover comes as deputies have been formally summoned for a plenary session on Tuesday morning to reinstate Ousmane Sonko as a member of parliament and proceed with the election of a new President of the National Assembly, following a wave of political realignments within the chamber.

The development has intensified tensions within the country’s executive and legislative branches, further complicating reform efforts led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who has faced growing internal pressure from within the governing coalition in recent months.

Adding to the political upheaval, El Malick Ndiaye, President of the National Assembly and a close ally of Sonko, resigned on Sunday, a move widely interpreted as paving the way for a leadership restructuring in favour of the ruling PASTEF bloc.

The Sonko National Assembly takeover scenario has emerged amid ongoing disputes following Sonko’s recent removal from the prime ministerial position by President Faye, a decision that has deepened divisions at the heart of Senegal’s executive leadership.

In response, Faye is now expected to appoint a new prime minister, whose nomination must be approved by the National Assembly within three months.

However, constitutional constraints mean President Faye cannot dissolve parliament until November, two years after the last legislative elections, leaving limited room for immediate political recalibration.

In a further development that could reshape the country’s political trajectory, a recent reform of the electoral code passed by parliament has reportedly restored Ousmane Sonko’s eligibility to contest future presidential elections, adding a new dimension to the already volatile political landscape.

Also read: CAF unveils AFCON 2025 best XI as Senegal shine

Analysts say the situation reflects a rapidly evolving power balance between the presidency and parliament, with the Sonko National Assembly takeover poised to become a defining moment in Senegal’s post-election governance structure.