On the occasion of his installation as head of the National Assembly on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Ousmane Sonko made a point of paying solemn tribute to his predecessor El Malick Ndiaye, emphatically praising his time at the presidency of the parliamentary institution.

In a speech delivered before the deputies and the large public gathered in the stands, the new president of the National Assembly first highlighted El Malick Ndiaye's "unwavering loyalty" to the "patriotic ideals" championed by Pastef.

"Let me first pay a fraternal and solemn tribute to my predecessor, President El Malick Ndiaye, for his unwavering loyalty to the patriotic ideals that unite us and for his constant dedication," said Ousmane Sonko.

The Pastef leader then praised what he considers to be a "brief but brilliant passage" of El Malick Ndiaye as President of the National Assembly, believing that he profoundly modernized the institution at several strategic levels.

On the material level, Ousmane Sonko highlighted the important rehabilitation work undertaken within the parliamentary building, stating that his predecessor had restored "luster and pride" to an institution that until then bore "the marks of time, wear and tear and neglect".

The tribute also extended to the institution's human resources management. According to the new Speaker of the National Assembly, El Malick Ndiaye paid "exemplary attention" to the living conditions of parliamentary staff, including technicians, clerks, assistants, and support personnel. "He forcefully reminded everyone that behind the parliamentary benches, there are lives," Ousmane Sonko emphasized.

On the financial front, the Pastef leader praised the implementation of much more rigorous budgetary procedures, explicitly mentioning "the end of gray areas and opaque practices." He also highlighted the efforts to digitize parliamentary work undertaken under the presidency of El Malick Ndiaye, as well as his political will to modernize the parliamentary administration by aligning it with international standards.

Finally, Ousmane Sonko praised the active role played by his predecessor on the international stage through parliamentary diplomacy, believing that he greatly contributed to strengthening Senegal's regional and international positioning.

Concluding this particularly heartfelt tribute, the new president of the National Assembly addressed his thanks to El Malick Ndiaye "on behalf of the deputies, of Pastef and of the Senegalese people".