Senegal parliament speaker El Malick Ndiaye resigns as political crisis deepens

Senegal's parliamentary speaker El Malick Ndiaye resigned on Sunday, France 24 reported, deepening a political crisis in the West African country.

Ndiaye's resignation opens the door for his ally Ousmane Sonko — who was dismissed as prime minister by the country's president two days earlier — to run for the speakership position.

Sonko's Pastef party commands a strong majority in Senegal's legislature, placing him in a strong position to claim the role.

The developments mark a significant escalation in tensions at the top of Senegalese politics, with two senior figures — the prime minister and the parliament speaker — exiting their posts within days of each other.