Senegal's Ousmane Sonko poised to control parliament after prime‑minister dismissal

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed Ousmane Sonko as prime minister and dissolved the cabinet on 22 May 2026 amid a $13 billion debt dispute and disagreements over IMF‑led reforms. The move ended Sonko’s short‑lived term but left his party, PASTEF, with a dominant majority of 130 seats in the 165‑member National Assembly.

Because the assembly can elect its own president, Sonko is now positioned to seek the presidency of the legislature, a role that would enable him to block government initiatives and solidify his influence ahead of the 2029 presidential election. Recent electoral‑code changes removed the defamation conviction that had barred him from running in 2024, clearing his path for a future bid. Analysts warn that a Sonko‑led assembly could trigger a constitutional standoff with the executive and spark widespread protests, raising the stakes for Senegal’s fragile democratic balance.