The political partnership between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his prime minister Ousmane Sonko has shattered less than two years after their electoral victory. Following months of underlying tensions, Faye dismissed Sonko from the premiership. In a swift countermove, Sonko was re-elected as leader of the Pastef party during its inaugural congress over the weekend.
This rupture raises critical questions: What triggered the split? Which faction now holds the allegiance of Senegal’s reform-minded electorate? What are the risks to national stability, and how do they shape the outlook for 2029? These issues were debated by Daouda Ngom, a former higher education minister, and journalist Mehdi Ba from Dakar.
