Réintégration de Ousmane Sonko : « On ne joue pas avec... »
Ousmane Sonko, leader of Pastef, recently dismissed from the Prime Minister's office in favor of Al Amine Lô, has engaged in an unprecedented power struggle with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. By seeking to reclaim his parliamentary seat in order to run for Speaker, he has triggered a major political crisis, with the National Assembly becoming the stage for a now-acknowledged break at the highest levels of government. Everything accelerated on Sunday, May 24, 2026, with the resignation of El Malick Ndiaye from the presidency of the institution, paving the way for the reinstatement and candidacy of the former Prime Minister amidst a rapid political reshuffle.
However, this institutional mechanism has sparked strong legal challenges. When questioned by L'Observateur about the regularity of the procedure, independent MP Tafsir Thioye was categorical, denouncing several substantial irregularities. According to him, the Conference of Presidents convened beforehand had "de facto become null and void due to this resignation," necessitating a new meeting convened by the First Vice-President. He also pointed out a procedural flaw related to holding these meetings on a public holiday and in the absence of the representative of the independent MPs.
Former parliamentarian Alioune Souaré, quoted by the same source, believes the former head of government can no longer hold his seat, arguing that "the legal texts nowhere indicate a request for a suspension of his mandate." He points out that his resignation was formalized in December 2024 and that the new organic law adopted in August 2025 to regulate the return of ministers cannot be applied due to the principle of non-retroactivity. This analysis is shared by Moussa Tine, president of the Pencoo Democratic Alliance, who asserts that "no text at that time mentioned a suspension of a parliamentary mandate." He also warns against the risk of holding multiple offices, noting that Ousmane Sonko is still handling day-to-day affairs at the Prime Minister's office. According to the source interviewed by the Groupe Futurs Médias (GFM) daily newspaper, an immediate installation as Speaker of the National Assembly would constitute a violation of the principle of separation of powers, with the former MP emphasizing that "one does not play games with the State, one does not trifle with the Republic."
Faced with these criticisms, Pastef's defense team offers a radically different interpretation. Lawyer Demba Ciré Bathily maintains that his client never resigned from his parliamentary seat but simply suspended it due to his government duties. According to him, the official end of his term as Prime Minister automatically ends this suspension, legally allowing him to reclaim his seat. The ball is now in the court of the National Assembly Bureau and the Constitutional Council, whose decision could set a precedent, notes the Gfm headline.
Commentaires (6)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.