Sonko, leader of the PASTEF party, was reinstated as a member of parliament during a plenary session before lawmakers voted him into the powerful speaker position. His election follows the resignation of his close ally, El Malick Ndiaye, who stepped down on Sunday, clearing the way for Sonko’s return to the leadership of the legislature.

The development comes amid widening political friction between Sonko and President Faye, who dismissed him as prime minister on Friday after months of reported tensions within the governing camp. The latest shift now places the two former allies on opposing institutional tracks, with Sonko leading the legislature and Faye heading the executive branch.

According to parliamentary sources, President Faye had moved to the Constitutional Court in an attempt to block Sonko’s reinstatement and his subsequent election as speaker. The legal challenge, however, did not prevent lawmakers from proceeding with the vote on Tuesday morning.

The situation is expected to further complicate governance and reform efforts in Senegal, a country often seen as one of West Africa’s more stable democracies. Analysts say the emerging standoff between the presidency and the National Assembly could slow decision-making and intensify political uncertainty.

Under Senegalese law, President Faye cannot dissolve parliament until November, two years after the last legislative elections, limiting his immediate options to reset the political balance.

The rapid deterioration in relations between the country’s two most prominent political figures marks a striking reversal from their earlier alliance, which helped propel both men to national leadership. With Sonko now controlling the legislature and Faye leading the executive, Senegal is entering a period of heightened institutional confrontation whose outcome could shape the country’s political direction in the months ahead.