Senegal: To 'dislodge' Sonko from the speaker's chair, opposition appeals to the 7 Sages of the Republic

Senegal's opposition, through 35 deputies, formally referred the matter to the Constitutional Council on June 8, 2026, challenging the reinstatement of Ousmane Sonko to the National Assembly and his subsequent election as its president on May 26, 2026. The petitioners cite Article 54 of the Constitution, which establishes incompatibility between a parliamentary mandate and government membership, noting that Sonko was Prime Minister when elected as a deputy in 2024. Aïssata Tall Sall, leader of the opposition parliamentary group, had earlier highlighted procedural irregularities, including a hasty summons for a weekend meeting. The Council has up to one month to decide.