Senegal: president faye removes prime minister sonko amid political rift

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye officially terminated the tenure of his Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, and his entire cabinet on Friday evening via a presidential decree. This significant political development in Senegal follows a period of escalating tensions between the two prominent figures, with Sonko having previously served as Faye’s mentor.

The announcement, broadcast on national television, was delivered by Oumar Samba Ba, the Secretary General of the Presidency. He stated that the President “has ended the duties of Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who were members of the government.”

The official statement further clarified that “the members of the outgoing government are tasked with handling current affairs” until a new administration is formed.

Ousmane Sonko, a vocal critic of former President Macky Sall (who served from 2012 to 2024), faced disqualification from the February 2024 presidential election. This came after a defamation conviction led to the revocation of his civil rights and sparked widespread popular protests across Senegal against President Sall’s government and the possibility of him seeking a controversial third term.

Following his disqualification, Sonko endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his presidential successor. Since Faye’s electoral victory, however, a noticeable strain has emerged between the president and his charismatic former mentor, whose considerable influence was instrumental in propelling their political duo to power.

With a powerful pan-Africanist message, Ousmane Sonko garnered passionate support among Senegal’s disillusioned youth in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential race, following months of intense political confrontation with Macky Sall’s administration.

Immediately after the announcement of his dismissal, Sonko took to his Facebook account, posting: “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight I will sleep with a light heart in Cité Keur Gorgui,” referring to his residence in the Dakar neighborhood.

Social media platforms quickly filled with videos depicting Sonko’s supporters converging on his home, chanting his name in a show of solidarity just moments after news of his removal from government broke.

For several months, the growing friction between Senegal’s head of state and head of government had become increasingly apparent, casting doubt on the long-term viability of their political partnership.

Sonko’s party holds a dominant position in the Senegalese National Assembly, having secured an overwhelming majority in the legislative elections held in November 2024.