Senegal is witnessing one of the most dramatic political ruptures seen in modern African politics, as the once-powerful alliance between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko appears to have completely collapsed. The political crisis has intensified after Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister last week before lawmakers loyal to Sonko swiftly reinstated him into parliament and elected him Speaker of the National Assembly.