SENEGAL: Ousted PM Sonko elected National Assembly speaker

Senegal’s National Assembly elected ousted prime minister Ousmane Sonko its speaker Tuesday in a vote boycotted by the opposition, following months of tension that culminated in the firebrand’s sacking.

Sonko’s rise to the top of parliament comes four days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye fired him and with opposition lawmakers deeming his reinstatement to the National Assembly “illegal”.

Sonko remains the undisputed leader of Pastef, the party which controls 130 of the 165 seats in Senegal’s only legislative body.