Sonko's former ally resigns as Senegal's Speaker after PM dismissal

Senegal's parliament speaker El Malick Ndiaye announced his resignation in a Facebook post, citing personal conviction regarding institutional integrity and national interest. This departure follows the dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, his close ally, by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye just two days prior. The political upheaval clears a significant path for Sonko to potentially assume the leadership of the National Assembly, where his Pastef party commands a commanding majority. This shift threatens to stall President Faye's reform agenda, especially as the nation faces a severe debt crisis and fragile negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

President Faye originally relied heavily on Sonko to secure his victory in the 2024 presidential election, where he won 54 percent of the vote after both men were released from prison ten days before the contest. Sonko had been barred from running due to a defamation conviction, yet his Pastef party promised a profound political shake-up and a fight against corruption upon inheriting a debt-ridden economy. Tensions between the president and prime minister had simmered for months, but Faye's decision to sack Sonko on Friday has intensified uncertainty within the country.

The economic stakes are high, with the IMF freezing a $1.8 billion lending program after discovering that the previous government had hidden misreported debt. Consequently, Senegal's debt burden reached 132 percent of its economic output by the end of 2024. Finance Minister Cheikh Diba indicated that talks to resume with the IMF were expected in the second week of June, with hopes of an agreement by June 30. Faye's action now risks delaying these crucial negotiations further.

Sonko, a former tax official who once led the opposition under President Macky Sall, now faces a unique political future. His Pastef party's dominance in the National Assembly means that any new leadership could complicate the passage of reforms necessary to secure international financial support. Last month, legislators overwhelmingly approved changes to the electoral code, potentially allowing Sonko to run for president in 2029. This development adds another layer of complexity to governance efforts in a nation grappling with ongoing IMF talks and a deepening political rift.