Power struggle escalates in Senegal... Sonko returns to the scene by assuming the presidency of parliament

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

In a remarkable political development reflecting Tensions escalate Within Senegal's ruling establishment, parliament elected Ousmane Sonko as its speaker on Tuesday, just days after he was dismissed from his post as prime minister by President Bassirou Diomêne Faye, amid growing disagreements over the economic reform program and the management of the debt crisis.

According to Reuters, the election of Sonko, who was dismissed last Friday, is seen as a direct challenge to the president's decision, especially after he received overwhelming support within parliament, where he won the backing of 132 out of 165 members, in a move that observers considered a political rebellion from the legislative body.

The position of Speaker of Parliament is the second highest position in the state hierarchy in Senegal after the presidency, and the ruling PASTEF party, led by Sonko, holds 130 out of 165 seats in Parliament.

Senegal is going through a delicate financial situation after negotiations with the International Monetary Fund regarding a new aid program stalled, after public debt exceeded 130% of GDP, prompting the government to take strict austerity measures.

Sonko de-escalates

Despite this, Sonko tried to downplay the escalation, stressing during his speech to the deputies: “We are not here to confront the President of the Republic, but Parliament will play its role fully.”.

International pressure and economic concerns

In conjunction with the political developments, Morgan Stanley warned of the increasing risk of Senegal defaulting on its debts, noting that Sonko’s dismissal had negatively affected the confidence of international investors, which was reflected in a sharp decline in the country’s bonds.

Analysts believe that Sonko's return to an influential position, this time through the presidency of parliament, may give him powerful tools to obstruct the president's legislative agenda, especially in light of the fundamental disagreements between the two sides over economic policies, most notably the management of public debt and the relationship with the International Monetary Fund.

The ruling party is experiencing internal discord.

The conflict between Sonko and Vai, two of the most prominent leaders of the ruling PASTEF party, has escalated rapidly since they came to power together in 2024, as their views on economic reforms and the direction of fiscal policies have diverged.

In an attempt to rearrange the scene, President Faye appointed economist Ahmadou Aminou Lo as the new prime minister, but his position on the debt restructuring file remains unclear, increasing the uncertainty about the future of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

Senegal was preparing to resume talks with the IMF next month to secure a new financing program, but recent developments could derail this process.

Test of democracy

Commenting on the crisis, Sonko considered what the country is witnessing to be a real test of democracy, stressing the need to manage political differences without slipping into violence or dismantling state institutions.

He said: “Senegal must prove to Africa that political crises can be managed through dialogue, without hatred or institutional collapse.”.

The political arena in Senegal remains open to further escalation, amid a power struggle between yesterday's allies, and mounting economic challenges putting pressure on the country.