Senegal’s political landscape has shifted dramatically with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye forming a new government without representation from the Pastef party, led by his former ally Ousmane Sonko. The announcement came just 12 days after Sonko was removed from his position as Prime Minister and later elected President of the National Assembly, marking the culmination of months of escalating tensions between the two leaders.

The decision to exclude Pastef follows a contentious meeting between President Faye and Sonko, where fundamental disagreements over the composition of the new cabinet were confirmed. According to a statement from the Pastef party, the discussions revealed “both convergences and significant points of disagreement,” particularly regarding the role of the ruling majority within the executive structure.

After internal deliberations, the Pastef leadership concluded that their proposals for the new government were not met with favorable responses. The party’s statement declared, “Following the feedback session to the party bodies, new proposals were submitted to the President of the Republic, but these were not accepted. As a result, PASTEF – Les Patriotes will not participate in the next government and will not be represented by any ministers.”

The reshuffle introduces Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô as the new Prime Minister, presenting a 30-member cabinet that notably excludes key figures from the outgoing government, including several Pastef members. This restructuring unfolds against a backdrop of severe economic strain, with Senegal grappling with the fallout from a 2024 revelation of underreported national debt, pushing the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio to 132% by the end of 2024. The International Monetary Fund has paused its $1.8 billion loan program, though authorities aim to resume negotiations next week, hoping to finalize a deal by June 30.

The exclusion of Pastef from the government underscores deepening political fissures at a critical economic juncture, leaving the nation to navigate both instability and financial challenges.