Senegal’s parliament on Tuesday elected ousted Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko as speaker, handing the influential opposition figure a new political platform days after he was removed from government by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Faye dismissed Sonko on Friday and dissolved the cabinet, ending months of speculation over a widening rift between the two leaders, particularly over the handling of Senegal’s debt crisis.
The political shake-up has deepened uncertainty over how the West African country will meet its loan obligations after authorities uncovered billions of dollars in previously unreported debt.
Lawmakers moved to reinstate Sonko as a member of parliament before electing him speaker with 132 votes in favour, a step that could allow him to challenge Faye from within one of the country’s most powerful institutions.
Opposition lawmakers denounced the move, questioning the legitimacy of the appointment.
“What is happening is a black day at the National Assembly,” opposition lawmaker Abdou Mbow said.
The vote marks a dramatic return to the political front line for Sonko and is likely to intensify tensions in Dakar as Senegal faces mounting economic pressure and uncertainty over the direction of government policy.