This Monday, Senegal’s new Prime Minister unveiled the government’s composition. Hours earlier, Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef-Les Patriotes party, had declared that none of its members would be included.

This move formalizes the political rift between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former ally, Ousmane Sonko, confirming the end of their once-united front.

The split has left many Senegalese students baffled and disheartened. At Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, several admit they struggle to accept the dissolution of a partnership that once symbolized hope for change.

A deep disappointment among the duo’s supporters

Beneath the shade of trees on the Faculty of Arts campus, Amath Segnane reviews his notes. Like many young voters, he had pinned his hopes on the alliance between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko.

The student doesn’t mince words. “They sold us the idea that Diomaye and Sonko were one. They made us believe they trusted each other and would work side by side to rebuild this country. But if today we’re facing a breakup, of course, it’s a huge letdown,” he admits.

For him, the separation challenges the image of unity that defined their political rise.

For some, a split that became inevitable

Moments before his economics lecture, Mamadou Bah, a student at the Faculty of Economics and Management, argues the rupture was foreseeable.

He insists the tensions between the two leaders had been evident for months. “We saw that for a long time, the former Prime Minister no longer respected the President’s authority. He positioned himself above the head of state. So I’m not surprised he was removed from office—and thus the split. I fully support the President’s decision,” he states.

Though disappointed by the turn of events, he believes the head of state was justified in reclaiming control of the executive branch.

Between skepticism and questions about the future

Not everyone is ready to accept the finality of the split. Omar Sarr, an Arabic studies student, still clings to hope for reconciliation between the former allies.

To him, their shared journey makes a permanent break hard to fathom. “Without Sonko, Diomaye would never have risen to power. They worked together for years, all the way to winning the presidency. Now opinions are divided—some side with Diomaye, others with Sonko. I don’t believe in a divorce; I refuse to accept it,” he shares.

Today, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye governs without the backing of the majority party, Pastef-Les Patriotes, while Ousmane Sonko, now President of the National Assembly, has joined the opposition. This new political landscape continues to fuel debates and uncertainty across Senegalese society.