President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sacked Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, and dissolved the country’s cabinet amid escalating political tensions between the once-close allies.
The announcement was made through an official decree broadcast on national television, confirming the immediate termination of Sonko’s appointment alongside that of all ministers and secretaries of state in the administration.
The development followed a tense parliamentary session on Tuesday where Sonko openly criticised the president, highlighting widening divisions within the ruling establishment.
Shortly after the announcement, Sonko reacted on social media, saying he would “sleep with a light heart,” despite the political upheaval surrounding his dismissal.
The fallout comes as Senegal struggles with mounting economic difficulties, including a soaring debt burden that has drawn concern from international financial institutions.
The International Monetary Fund recently disclosed that Senegal’s debt profile had risen to about 132 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, leading to the suspension of a $1.8 billion support programme.
Faye and Sonko had jointly risen to power during the 2024 presidential election after Sonko, barred from contesting because of a defamation conviction, threw his weight behind Faye’s candidacy.
Their alliance became a rallying point for many Senegalese voters, particularly young people, under the campaign slogan, “Diomaye is Sonko, Sonko is Diomaye.”
The pair went on to defeat former President Macky Sall in an election widely viewed as historic, especially as both men had regained freedom from prison only days before the vote.
Political observers had long speculated that tensions could emerge between the two leaders due to Sonko’s strong influence within the ruling Pastef party and among Senegalese youths.
Following Sonko’s removal, reports indicated that hundreds of students gathered in the capital, Dakar, to express support for the former prime minister.
Despite the sweeping cabinet dissolution, the presidency has yet to announce who will succeed Sonko as head of government.
The relationship between the two leaders had reportedly worsened in recent months, with Faye allegedly accusing Sonko of over-personalising the ruling movement, while Sonko criticised the president for what he described as poor leadership and failure to defend him against political attacks.