Senegal parliament speaker El Malick Ndiaye resigns amid deepening political crisis

Senegal's parliament speaker El Malick Ndiaye stepped down on Sunday as the country's political crisis intensified, Al Jazeera English reported.

Ndiaye's resignation is significant for former prime minister Ousmane Sonko, who was previously sacked from the government. According to Al Jazeera, the departure clears the way for Sonko to run for the position of head of parliament.

The move represents a notable shift in Senegal's institutional balance at a moment when the country is navigating acute political turbulence. Al Jazeera noted that the crisis has been worsening, though the outlet did not specify the precise sequence of events that precipitated Ndiaye's decision.

Sonko is a prominent and controversial political figure in Senegal. His potential candidacy for the speakership would place him at the head of the legislature, giving him significant institutional power despite his removal from the executive branch.