Sénégal in political upheaval as President Faye dismisses Prime Minister Sonko
On Friday, May 22, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signed Decree No. 2026-128, terminating the mandate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and effectively dissolving the entire government of Senegal. This decisive move signals a significant shift in the nation’s political landscape, underscoring deepening divisions within the ruling coalition.
Government officials have been instructed to handle only routine matters until a new cabinet is formed. At this stage, no timeline has been disclosed for the appointment of a successor to lead the executive branch. The absence of clarity has intensified speculation about the government’s future direction and the underlying causes of this abrupt reorganization.
The dissolution comes after months of escalating tensions between the President and the Prime Minister, both former allies within the PASTEF movement. Once united in their political vision, their public disagreements have exposed fractures that have grown increasingly difficult to reconcile, reshaping the dynamics of governance in Dakar.
