President Faye dismisses Prime Minister Sonko amid growing tensions

The Senegalese president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, abruptly terminated the mandate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko late Friday evening, abruptly ending the fragile alliance that had propelled both leaders to power following the February 2024 presidential election. The decision was announced in a televised address delivered by the presidential secretary-general, Oumar Samba Ba, who stated that «the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and junior ministers, have been terminated». The outgoing government members will remain in place only to «handle current affairs» until a new executive team is formed.

This abrupt change marks the culmination of months of escalating tensions between the two leaders, whose partnership had once united opposition forces against former President Macky Sall. Sonko, barred from running due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of civic rights, had backed Faye’s candidacy, playing a pivotal role in his rise to the presidency.

A rivalry fueled by power struggles and ideological divides

Since assuming office in Dakar, the relationship between Faye and Sonko steadily deteriorated. Sonko’s influence, particularly among Senegal’s youth drawn to his sovereignist and panafricanist rhetoric, posed a growing challenge to the president. For many activists, Sonko remained the true architect of the political shift that brought Faye to power, complicating the president’s efforts to assert his own authority.

Tensions peaked after the November 2024 legislative elections, which saw the ruling party secure a landslide victory closely tied to Sonko’s enduring popularity. Recent incidents in the capital underscored widening rifts between the presidency and the prime minister’s office, fueling speculation of an impending rupture that now appears unavoidable.

Minutes after the announcement, Sonko took to Facebook with a cryptic message: «Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep soundly in my home at Keur Gorgui», referencing his residence in Dakar’s Keur Gorgui district. Soon after, social media videos showed dozens of supporters gathering outside his home, chanting his name in defiance.

Parliamentary majority at risk of instability

The president’s decision plunges Senegal into a period of deep political uncertainty, with Sonko’s camp still wielding significant influence in the National Assembly. The ruling party’s parliamentary dominance could swiftly turn this leadership crisis into an institutional confrontation, especially given Sonko’s status as one of the country’s most popular politicians.

The rapid rise of the Faye-Sonko duo was built on a shared pledge to challenge entrenched political elites, critique Senegal’s historical ties with France, and promise sweeping reforms. For months, their movement energized urban youth, with Sonko’s rhetoric serving as the driving force behind their mobilization.

By removing his former mentor, President Faye risks alienating a militant base whose loyalty is deeply tied to Sonko. In Dakar, the prospect of a swift reshuffle in the balance of power at the state’s highest levels is already stoking political unrest—despite the country’s long-standing ability to weather successive crises.