Sonko Returns: From dismissed Prime Minister to National Assembly Speaker in a single day

Just hours after Senegal’s National Assembly voted to reinstate him as a deputy, lawmakers swiftly elected him President (Speaker) of the National Assembly — the country’s second-most powerful position.

The rapid ascent marks a remarkable comeback for Sonko, who was previously dismissed as Prime Minister. Within one day, he has been catapulted back into the heart of Senegal’s political machinery.

The move was orchestrated by Sonko’s PASTEF party, which leveraged its parliamentary majority and invoked internal rule Article 124 to push through the reinstatement and subsequent election. Opposition figures have already condemned the maneuver as controversial, but the decision is final.

With Sonko now presiding over the National Assembly, political observers are asking what this means for President Diomaye Faye. Will the new alignment lead to stronger checks on the executive, signal a power shift within the ruling coalition, or serve as preparation for even higher office?

Across West Africa, the political drama has captured attention. As one analyst put it: “Senegal never misses with the drama.” Africa is watching closely as the country’s political chess game enters its next phase.