The Senegalese president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has dismissed his prime minister and former ally Ousmane Sonko, marking the culmination of months of escalating friction between the two leaders who rose to power together in April 2024 on a wave of popular hope.
In a televised address delivered by the presidential secretary-general, Oumar Samba Ba, the president announced the termination of Ousmane Sonko’s duties as prime minister, along with those of all ministers and state secretaries in the government. The outgoing officials have been instructed to manage current affairs until further notice, though no timeline has been provided for the appointment of a successor.
Tensions between Faye and Sonko have steadily intensified since the president’s election. Sonko, once a charismatic mentor to the president, played a pivotal role in securing their joint victory, despite his own ineligibility for the 2024 presidential race due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of his civil rights. Sonko had previously endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his replacement candidate, uniting their political forces under the campaign slogan “Diomaye Moy Sonko” — “Diomaye is Sonko” in Wolof.
Sonko’s panafricanist rhetoric resonated deeply with Senegal’s disillusioned youth, particularly after years of confrontation with the previous administration under President Macky Sall. Sonko’s vocal opposition to Sall’s attempts to seek a third term led to violent crackdowns on protests, solidifying his image as a bold challenger to entrenched power.
Spontaneous celebrations erupt in Dakar
Within minutes of the announcement, Sonko took to social media to express relief, stating, “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep peacefully in Keur Gorgui,” the Dakar neighborhood where he resides. Shortly after midnight, he returned home to be greeted by hundreds of supporters who had gathered outside his residence to celebrate the decision.
Earlier in the day, Sonko had criticized Western “tyranny” during a parliamentary session, accusing foreign powers of attempting to impose homosexuality on the predominantly Muslim nation. His remarks came just weeks after Senegal passed a law toughening penalties for same-sex relations. The timing of his speech further underscored the widening divide between the president and his prime minister.
The rift had become unmistakable in recent months. In early May, President Faye publicly criticized what he described as Sonko’s “excessive personalization” of the ruling party. “As long as he remains prime minister, it is because I trust him,” Faye stated in a televised interview. “If that trust wanes, there will be a new prime minister.”
Despite Sonko’s dominant influence within the ruling party — which secured a commanding majority in the November 2024 legislative elections — the president’s stance signals a decisive break. Opposition figures have warned that recent electoral reforms passed by Parliament in late April could pave the way for Sonko’s 2029 presidential bid, a prospect that contrasts sharply with the relatively modest public enthusiasm for Faye’s own potential candidacy.
Senegal’s financial challenges remain daunting. According to the International Monetary Fund, the country is now the second most indebted in sub-Saharan Africa, with public debt equivalent to 132% of GDP. The current administration has accused the previous government of concealing this reality, which led to the suspension of a $1.8 billion IMF assistance program in 2024.