DAKAR, Senegal
Senegal’s political crisis deepened on Monday after National Assembly Speaker El Malick Ndiaye announced his resignation, just days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government.
The resignation comes at a time of growing uncertainty in the West African nation, where tensions between Faye and Sonko once close political allies who swept to power together in 2024 have escalated into an open power struggle. Ndiaye, a senior member of PASTEF party, said his decision was motivated by what he described as the higher interest of the nation.
Ndiaye’s resignation was announced two days after President Faye fired Sonko and dissolved the cabinet, ending months of speculation about growing disagreements at the top of government. The dismissal marked a dramatic rupture between two leaders whose alliance helped end decades of dominance by Senegal’s traditional political establishment.
According to reports, all ministers were dismissed alongside Sonko, while the outgoing administration was instructed to continue handling routine government affairs until a new government is formed.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye became Senegal’s fifth president in April 2024 after winning an election that followed a period of political turbulence. He was widely seen as the political apprentice of Ousmane Sonko, the influential opposition leader who was unable to contest the presidency himself and instead backed Faye’s candidacy.
Sonko was subsequently appointed prime minister and became one of the most powerful figures in the administration. However, relations between the two men deteriorated over recent months amid disagreements on governance, economic policy, and the direction of the ruling PASTEF movement.
Ndiaye, who became Speaker of the National Assembly in December 2024 after serving as Minister of Infrastructure, is also a prominent member of the ruling party.
While Ndiaye did not publicly provide detailed reasons for stepping down, his resignation comes as parliament prepares for a potentially consequential vote. Reuters reported that lawmakers are expected to meet to consider Sonko’s return to the National Assembly and to elect a new Speaker.
The timing has fueled intense political debate in Senegal, with observers closely watching how the ruling party manages the fallout from the collapse of the alliance between Faye and Sonko.
The political crisis follows months of mounting tensions between the president and his prime minister. Reports indicate that disagreements emerged over economic management, debt-related reforms, governance issues, and the future direction of the government. Senegal is also facing significant fiscal pressures after concerns over public debt complicated negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Earlier this month, President Faye publicly warned that divisions within the ruling party could threaten its future if internal disputes were not resolved.
Attention is now turning to Parliament, where lawmakers are expected to elect a new Speaker following Ndiaye’s departure. The National Assembly’s next steps could have major implications for Senegal’s political landscape, particularly if Sonko seeks a more prominent role within the legislature after his removal from government.
The developments represent the most serious political crisis Senegal has faced since Faye and Sonko’s movement came to power in 2024. As the country awaits the formation of a new government and the election of a new parliamentary leader, questions remain about the future of the ruling coalition and the direction of one of West Africa’s most closely watched democracies.
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