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El Malick Ndiaye's resignation as Senegal's National Assembly president clears a path for Ousmane Sonko, reshaping political dynamics amid uncertainty following the prime minister's dismissal.

The speaker's chair at Senegal's National Assembly is empty. El Malick Ndiaye, until now president of the institution, has resigned in a heavy political climate marked by the dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. This departure is no mere cabinet reshuffle: it is a breach opening wide, and it may lead straight to the leader of Pastef.

For those who read between the lines in Dakar, this resignation is not a full stop but a starting point. The uncertainty that has hung since Sonko's removal from the prime minister's office finds a new chapter here. The Assembly, long seen as a stronghold of the ruling establishment, may see its balances upended.

Ousmane Sonko, rising opposition figure and head of Pastef, now finds himself in a position of strength. Many observers see him as Ndiaye's natural successor. But beyond political calculations, an entire power dynamic is being redrawn in the chamber.

In this game of musical chairs, the Senegalese people watch, clear-eyed. Senegalese democracy, in its maturity, knows that such turbulent moments are also opportunities. The question remains whether this opening will lead to renewed stability or further shocks.

El Malick Ndiaye Resigns: The Speaker's Chair Opens for Ousmane Sonko

Ansoumana Dione urges President Diomaye to begin national dialogue with former heads of state, arguing they embody Senegal's sovereignty and historical lessons, making them essential for healing and inclusive conversation.

The national dialogue launched by Bassirou Diomaye Faye is a long-awaited initiative, but its architecture is already stirring debate. This Thursday, May 21, 2026, the president began a series of meetings with former prime ministers. A consultative gesture, yes, but one that raises questions about the hierarchy of memories being summoned.

Ansoumana Dione, founding president of the Senegalese Association for Monitoring and Assistance to the Mentally Ill, did not mince words. In a reaction that carries the voice of a demanding civil society, he urges Diomaye to start with former heads of state. "Why not first sit with those who embodied Senegal's sovereignty?" he seems to ask, between the lines.

Behind this challenge lies a whole conception of dialogue. Former presidents are not mere symbols: they carry decades of continuity, ruptures, and compromises. Bypassing them risks repeating the mistakes of the past without having grasped its lessons. Dione, a field man who witnesses the nation's mental fragilities, reminds us that healing a country begins with honoring its roots.

The new format of national dialogue promises to be inclusive, but inclusion is not decreed: it is built through the order of priorities. By starting with former prime ministers, the president makes a choice. Dione invites him to make another, more foundational one. For in Senegal, the voice of former heads of state is not an option: it is a cornerstone.

National Dialogue: Ansoumana Dione Urges Diomaye to Start with Former Heads of State

During his handover as Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko pledged the National Assembly would support the government, but only if it serves Senegal's supreme interest, signaling a demanding partnership.

On Friday, at the Prime Minister's office in Dakar, the handover between Ahmadou Al Aminou and Ousmane Sonko was more than a bureaucratic formality. It was a political moment, heavy with symbolism and expectation. In a Senegal watching every move of its new leaders, Sonko chose to open his tenure with a clear pledge: the National Assembly will not be a hindrance but a demanding partner.

"The National Assembly will support the government in the interest of Senegal," he assured, setting an immediate condition: that this supreme interest remains the guiding star. The words echo beyond the walls of the Prime Minister's office. They signal that the dialogue between the executive and the legislature will not be a monologue, that the majority will not be a rubber-stamp chamber.

Sonko, a former opposition figure now leading the government, knows the weight of words. By insisting on Senegal's supreme interest, he reminds that politics is not a power game but a mission. This is not wishful thinking: it is a contract with the Senegalese people, who expect concrete action.

The statement comes at a time of immense expectations. After months of political tension, the Senegalese people yearn for transparent, effective governance squarely focused on development. Sonko knows this. By linking the National Assembly to this momentum, he sketches a vision: a Republic where every institution plays its part, without discord.

How this promise will translate into action remains to be seen. But for now, the message is clear: in Senegal, the time for rear-guard battles is over. It is time to build a shared future.