Sénégal opposition challenges sonko’s parliamentary reinstatement at constitutional council

Members of the opposition in the Senegal National Assembly have formally petitioned the Constitutional Council to rule on the legality of Ousmane Sonko’s reinstatement as a deputy, a move they describe as a constitutional breach.

The opposition lawmakers argue that the Bureau of the National Assembly’s decision on May 24, 2026, to reinstate Sonko—despite his prior incompatibility with parliamentary office—violates both the Constitution and the principle of separation of powers. Sonko, who had been appointed Prime Minister and later elected as a deputy in 2024, was constitutionally barred from holding both governmental and legislative roles simultaneously. His reinstatement, they contend, was an attempt to circumvent constitutional safeguards.

In their filing, the deputies emphasize that Sonko’s retention of governmental duties while serving as a deputy directly contravened Article 54 of the Constitution, which prohibits such dual mandates. They further highlight that his subsequent election as President of the National Assembly on May 26, 2026, was the culmination of what they term an unconstitutional process, demanding that the Council intervene to restore institutional integrity.

The opposition’s legal challenge was not without procedural hurdles. Prior to filing, they were compelled to serve formal summons via a court bailiff to obtain critical documents—including Sonko’s reinstatement decree and the plenary session minutes of May 26—from Assembly officials. Despite the public nature of these records, both the Secretary-General and the First Vice-President of the National Assembly refused to provide them, an act the deputies condemned as a grave obstruction to democratic transparency and parliamentary rights.

In their statement, the opposition deputies stressed their unwavering commitment to defending the Constitution through legal and nonviolent means. “No majority, no matter how substantial, stands above the Republic’s fundamental law,” they declared. They urged the Constitutional Council to assert its authority by invalidating the contested reinstatement, warning that unchecked institutional overreach would undermine the foundations of Senegal’s democracy.

The petition was signed by prominent opposition figures, including: