Africa-Press. The Speaker of the Senegalese Parliament, Malick Ndai, announced his resignation days after the dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, amid a growing political crisis in the country.
A statement from the media office of the resigning parliament speaker indicated that Ndai submitted his resignation on Sunday following an urgent meeting of the National Assembly Bureau, emphasizing that his decision was made in the interest of national welfare during a delicate political period.
Ndai stated in the announcement, “In times of national hardship, responsibility requires prioritizing wisdom and the higher interests of the nation over other considerations.”
At 43 years old, Ndai is considered one of Sonko’s prominent allies and assumed the role of Parliament Speaker in late 2024 after the party “African Patriots for Work, Ethics, and Brotherhood in Senegal” (PASTEF) won a sweeping majority of 135 seats in the legislative elections.
This resignation follows President Bassey Doumay Faye’s decision on May 22 to dismiss Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, a move that revealed escalating disagreements between the two regarding government direction and economic policies, despite their previously close alliance.
In a post on the X platform, Ndai clarified that his decision to resign was made “out of responsibility and awareness of the state’s requirements.” The Parliament Bureau approved the resignation during an extraordinary meeting and simultaneously ratified Sonko’s return to parliamentary membership following his departure from the premiership.
Senegalese media estimates suggest that Ndai’s resignation may pave the way for Sonko to be elected as Parliament Speaker, given that PASTEF controls 130 out of 165 seats, with expectations to finalize this process during a session scheduled for May 26.
The position of Parliament Speaker is the second highest in the power hierarchy in Senegal, following the presidency.
President Faye announced Sonko’s dismissal and the dissolution of the government late Saturday night through a presidential decree, which was subsequently announced by the government secretary on state television.
