Senegal's leadership row mounts as parliament speaker resigns

Some speculate that El Malick Ndiaye stepped down so that ousted-PM Ousmane Sonko can take his place. Senegal's leadership row mounts as parliament Speaker El Malick Ndiaye resigns Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. "Deep reflection" and a "sense of duty" were El Malick Ndiaye's stated reasons for stepping down El Malick Ndiaye wears a suit and tie and sits in front of the Senegalese national flag. Senegal's leadership row mounts as parliament speaker resigns The Speaker of Senegal's parliament El Malick Ndiaye has resigned from his post days after the country's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye sacked his mentor-turned-deputy, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, and dissolved the government. The Speaker of Senegal's parliament El Malick Ndiaye has resigned from his post days after the country's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye sacked his mentor-turned-deputy, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, and dissolved the government Some now speculate there are plans to offer the vacant speaker post to Sonko by loyalists in defiance of the president. Senegal's current crisis follows months of tension between Sonko and Faye. In a statement announcing his decision to resign as speaker on Sunday, Ndiaye said it came after "deep reflection" on "the sense of statehood". "In public responsibilities as well as in the trials of national life, there are times when the interest of the country commands to prioritise integrity, discernment and sense of duty," he added. MPs have now been asked to meet on Tuesday for a session aimed at bringing Sonko back into parliament and voting for a new speaker. The former prime minister, who is also the firebrand leader of the Pastef party, was at the top of its list in 2024's legislative elections. Although he was elected, he renounced his legislative duties to continue serving as prime minister. "I am staying at the prime minister's office. I submitted my resignation letter as a member of parliament," Sonko was quoted as saying two years ago. However, following the end of his tenure in government, he looks set to return to parliament where his supporters expect him to run for the post of speaker. With the departure of Sonko and his possible rise to the summit of legislative power, analysts say Faye's power could be significantly limited without parliamentary support. Sonko's Pastef party already enjoys an absolute majority there - a factor which many say could complicate Faye's ability to introduce policies or reforms. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye (right) owes his job, in large part, to the now-sacked Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko (left) Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko is pictured with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye The country now awaits the appointment of a new prime minister, but uncertainty remains over whether their approval process in parliament would be smooth. Lawmakers have up to three months to approve the nominated candidate. Meanwhile, the president cannot dissolve parliament until at least two years after the last election. That means any move to prematurely end the mandates of lawmakers before November this year would be considered invalid. The rift between Faye and Sonko further raises uncertainty over the political future of the debt-crippled West African nation, which is no stranger to leadership tussles. The 51-year-old ex-prime minister commands massive support across the country, especially among young people. While previously serving as a legislator in the opposition, he was renowned for fiercely challenging former President Macky Sall's policies - a trait which he also demonstrated against his boss Faye. Sonko would almost certainly have taken the top job had he not been barred from running in 2024's presidential election due to a defamation conviction. It now remains to be seen how far his political separation from Faye would go, and what that would mean for Senegal, which previously drew praise for its youthful and vibrant leadership. Kemi Seba is wearing a grey shirt, facing ahead. He is wearing a beaded wooden necklace and has his left arm raised in the air with his index finger pointing up. In the background is the partial logo of NGO Pan-Africanist Emergency The detained anti-colonial activist grabbing attention in West Africa: Who is Kemi Seba? Sadi Mane in green Senegal jersey seen from chest up lifting the golder Afcon trophy. He is holding it aloft in his right hand while also lifting his left into the air. He has a red medal ribbon around his neck and golden ticker tape is seen falling in the backgroun Senegal to parade Afcon trophy despite title being stripped A close up of a woman holding green beans The two farms in Senegal that supply many of the UK's vegetables A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Bassirou Diomaye Faye also dissolved the government, creating uncertainty amid a debt crisis in the country. Iliman Ndiaye insists Senegal are African champions in "many people's eyes" despite a legal wrangle over the ultimate destination of the 2025 Afcon title. Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane is included in Senegal's 28-man squad for this summer's World Cup. Four people were also injured in the incident inside Murchison Falls National Park, officials say. A man managed to evade security and embrace William Ruto before being wrestled to the ground. Friends of Africa uses the campaign to show the island is welcoming to different communities. They are thought to have caught the virus before the outbreak was identified, the Red Cross says. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are major importers of used garments from the West and China.