Bassirou Diomaye Faye has removed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko from office and dissolved Senegal’s entire cabinet following months of growing political tension between the two leaders.
Gatekeepers News reports rhat the decision was announced late Friday through a presidential decree broadcast on state television. The decree stated that Faye had “ended the duties of Ousmane Sonko” alongside those of all ministers and secretaries of state serving in the government.
Sonko, who reacted shortly after the announcement, said he would “sleep soundly tonight” as supporters gathered around him in Dakar following his dismissal.
Faye and Sonko were previously close political allies under the ruling PASTEF party. Sonko had backed Faye’s successful 2024 presidential campaign after he was barred from contesting the election himself due to a defamation conviction. Following Faye’s victory, Sonko was appointed prime minister.
However, relations between the pair reportedly deteriorated over disagreements surrounding governance, party leadership and economic policy. The tension became more visible earlier this week when Sonko openly criticised the president during a parliamentary session.
The political shake-up comes as Senegal faces mounting economic challenges, including rising debt levels and ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Reuters reported that the country’s IMF support programme had been disrupted following concerns over debt reporting and financial management.
No replacement for Sonko has been announced yet, while the outgoing cabinet has reportedly been asked to continue handling routine government affairs pending the formation of a new administration.
