Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced Friday the termination of his Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s tenure, a move that follows months of escalating friction between the two leaders. Both men ascended to power in April 2024, propelled by a wave of widespread public hope.
The presidential decree, read on national television by Oumar Samba Ba, the Secretary General of the Presidency, stated that “the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister, are hereby terminated, and consequently, those of the ministers and secretaries of state members of the government.”
The statement further directed that “the members of the outgoing government are tasked with managing current affairs.”
No immediate announcement was made regarding the appointment of a new Prime Minister.
Since President Faye’s election, tensions have steadily mounted between the head of state and his charismatic former mentor. Sonko’s considerable influence was instrumental in securing their joint path to leadership.
A vocal opponent of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024), Ousmane Sonko was disqualified from running in the 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction that led to the loss of his civil rights. He subsequently endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye to take his place in the electoral race.
With his impassioned pan-Africanist rhetoric, Mr. Sonko captivated Senegal’s disillusioned youth. This surge in popularity followed months of intense confrontation with Macky Sall’s administration, which had violently suppressed protests against him and the possibility of a third term.
Freshly released from prison under a general amnesty, Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye campaigned under the powerful slogan “Diomaye Moy Sonko,” which translates to “Diomaye is Sonko” in Wolof.
– Spontaneous public gathering –
“Alhamdoulillah. Tonight I will sleep with a light heart in Cité Keur Gorgui,” Mr. Sonko promptly posted on his Facebook account, referring to his Dakar neighborhood of residence.
Shortly after midnight, Mr. Sonko arrived at his home, where he was met with cheers from hundreds of people who had gathered to show their support.
Earlier in the day, addressing Parliament, the Prime Minister had vehemently criticized what he termed the “tyranny” of the West. He accused Western nations of attempting to “impose (homosexuality) on the rest of the world,” a statement made weeks after a new law in the predominantly Muslim West African nation stiffened penalties for homosexual relations.
For several months, the growing discord between the head of state and the head of government had become increasingly apparent.
In early May, President Faye had publicly criticized his Prime Minister’s “excessive personalization” within the ruling party.
During a televised interview, he had stated, “As long as he remains Prime Minister, it is because he benefits from my confidence. When that is no longer the case, there will be a new Prime Minister.”
Mr. Sonko’s party has held a significant majority in the Senegalese National Assembly since the legislative elections in November 2024.
In late April, Parliament passed a reform of the electoral code, which drew criticism from the opposition, but potentially cleared the path for Mr. Sonko to run in the 2029 presidential election.
Despite not possessing the same popular appeal as his rival, Mr. Faye has been steadily consolidating support over recent months through the “Diomaye Président” movement, signaling a potential bid for the presidency in 2029.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Senegal ranks as the second most indebted nation in Sub-Saharan Africa. The national debt, a legacy from the previous administration, currently stands at an alarming 132% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
In 2024, the new government accused the former President Macky Sall’s administration of concealing the true extent of this debt, which led to the suspension of a $1.8 billion IMF aid program.
