Outside Ousmane Sonko’s residence in Cité Keur Gorgui, a fervent supporter of the Pastef-Les Patriotes party cried out, “Sonkoooo!” He had arrived to express his unwavering solidarity with his leader, Ousmane Sonko.

Nourdine Diallo, a dedicated activist, expressed profound devastation over the recent political rift. He had strongly believed in the powerful alliance of Diomaye-Sonko, a slogan he championed relentlessly throughout the Senegalese election campaign.

“It truly pained us deeply to learn that the President had dismissed the Prime Minister. We campaigned tirelessly, proclaiming ‘Diomaye is Sonko – Sonko is Diomaye.’ This slogan was more than just words; it was a reality we lived. We assured the people of Senegal that Diomaye and Sonko were brothers, bound by fraternal ties, party affiliation, and institutional connections.”

Institutional power struggle in Senegal

The dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko occurred shortly after his appearance before the National Assembly for a routine question-and-answer session with the government. During this session, Sonko had openly questioned several policy decisions made by President Diomaye Faye.

This development has now set the stage for a direct institutional confrontation. A special session of the National Assembly is scheduled for this Tuesday (May 26, 2026) to address Ousmane Sonko’s reinstatement as a Member of Parliament. He had temporarily relinquished his parliamentary mandate to serve as Prime Minister.

The Assembly session will also address a second crucial item: the election of a new Speaker to succeed El Hadj Malick Ndiaye, who resigned. Ndiaye, a staunch loyalist of Sonko, stepped down on Sunday (May 24, 2026) shortly after Sonko’s dismissal. Ousmane Sonko now stands a strong chance of assuming the Speakership of the National Assembly, effectively becoming the second most powerful figure in the Senegalese state.

This development, according to political analyst Malao Kanté, will likely ignite a direct confrontation between the two former allies.

“One can consider Ousmane Sonko as the new face of the opposition. However, this opposition currently holds a parliamentary majority, which is not without risks. Firstly, there’s a risk of a no-confidence motion for the next Prime Minister. What’s clear is that this situation could plunge the country into a complicated state and hinder the effective functioning of the government.”

Opposition challenges Sonko’s parliamentary reinstatement

In response to this unfolding scenario, Adama Fall, a political leader within Pastef-Les Patriotes, voiced his hope that the nation’s interests would ultimately transcend the personal differences between Diomaye and Sonko.

“As Africans, this pattern is accustomed to our history. We witnessed Blaise Compaoré and Thomas Sankara, we saw Patrice Lumumba, and even in Senegal, the dynamic between Mamadou Dia and Senghor. Today, we are reliving history, with the crucial difference being that this is an entirely different generation from Mamadou Dia’s. We are a conscious generation, and history will not repeat itself in the same negative way; it will repeat itself in a positive direction.”

A significant shockwave is reverberating through the Pastef party. Several key officials and administrative leaders closely associated with Ousmane Sonko have opted to resign from their positions in a show of solidarity.

The potential reinstatement of Ousmane Sonko to parliament, where his party holds a substantial majority, follows Sunday’s resignation of parliamentary Speaker El Hadji Malick Ndiaye. The opposition parliamentary group, Takuu Walu, held a press conference this Monday (May 25, 2026) in light of this resignation. Aïssata Tall Sall and her colleagues have rejected Ndiaye’s resignation letter, deeming it invalid. The leader of the opposition parliamentary group asserts that Ndiaye violated the internal regulations of the National Assembly.

Furthermore, Aïssata Tall Sall has urged President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to refer Ousmane Sonko’s reinstatement to the Constitutional Council, describing the situation as a “constitutional coup d’état.” She ominously predicted that if President Faye fails to act, Ousmane Sonko will eventually target his presidential office.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, meanwhile, appointed a new Prime Minister overnight to replace Ousmane Sonko. The new appointee is Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô, a seasoned banker and former official of the BCEAO, who previously served as Minister of State to the Presidency. The newly appointed Prime Minister emphasized that Senegal stands at a critical juncture and called for national mobilization.