The political landscape in Senegal has been rocked by a dramatic shake-up at the highest level of government. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye made a decisive move on Friday, May 22, by dismissing Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, signaling the culmination of months of escalating tensions. What began as a partnership promising sweeping reforms and a break from the Macky Sall era has now collapsed under the weight of internal rivalries, governance disputes, and stark differences over economic policy and power dynamics.

To unpack the layers of this unfolding crisis, this analysis draws on insights from Babacar Ndiaye, director of research at the WATHI think tank, shedding light on the root causes and potential repercussions of this pivotal moment in Senegalese politics.