Rabat – Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the country’s government, marking a dramatic political rupture between two allies whose close friendship helped reshape Senegal’s political landscape just months ago.
The announcement came through a presidential decree read on national television by a presidential aide, stating that Faye had “ended the duties of Ousmane Sonko” along with those of ministers and secretaries of state serving in the government.
It follows months of increasingly visible tensions between the president and his prime minister, once seen as inseparable political partners and friends. Sonko, a highly influential opposition figure with strong support among Senegalese youth, had backed Faye’s presidential bid in the 2024 elections after he was barred from running himself due to a defamation conviction.
Their alliance secured a historic electoral victory, particularly as both men had been released from prison only days before the presidential vote. At the time, their rise to power was widely viewed as a symbol of political change in Senegal.
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However, relations between the two leaders gradually deteriorated. Reports of internal disagreements within the ruling Pastef party surfaced in recent months, with Faye allegedly criticizing what he described as Sonko’s growing personalization of the movement. In return, Sonko accused the president of lacking charcter and failing to defend him against political attacks.
The tensions reached a breaking point following a parliamentary session on Tuesday during which Sonko openly criticized President Faye, further exposing divisions at the top of the Senegalese leadership.
Shortly after the announcement of his dismissal, Sonko reacted on social media, saying he would “sleep with a light heart in the Keur Gorgui neighbourhood,” referring to his residence in Dakar.
The political shake-up comes at a difficult economic moment for Senegal. The country is facing mounting financial pressure after the International Monetary Fund suspended its $1.8 billion lending program following the discovery of misreported debt figures. According to IMF estimates, Senegal’s public debt had climbed to 132% of its gross domestic product by the end of 2024.
The sudden collapse of the government is expected to deepen uncertainty in Senegal, where many had hoped the Faye-Sonko partnership would bring political stability and economic reform after years of unrest and opposition-led protests.
