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President Faye terminates Sonko's premiership
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye abruptly removed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the entire government on Tuesday, marking a dramatic rupture between the two former allies.
A televised presidential decree, announced by an aide, stated Faye had "ended the duties" of Sonko and, by extension, all ministers and secretaries of state. The decision followed months of growing friction between the two leaders, who rose to power together earlier this year.
Sonko's reaction and public support
Sonko, a prominent figure among Senegal's youth, responded on social media with a brief message: "I will sleep with a light heart." His dismissal triggered spontaneous protests in the capital, Dakar, where several hundred students gathered late Tuesday to voice their support for the ousted prime minister.
Political alliance unravels
The split underscores the fragility of the political partnership that propelled Faye to the presidency. Sonko, barred from running in the 2024 elections due to a defamation conviction, had endorsed Faye's candidacy under the slogan "Diomaye is Sonko, Sonko is Diomaye." Their joint campaign succeeded in unseating then-President Macky Sall, despite both men being imprisoned until just 10 days before the vote.
Public criticism and economic strain
Tensions between the two leaders had been simmering for months. Faye reportedly criticized Sonko's "excessive personalization" within their ruling party, Pastef, while Sonko accused the president of failing to defend him against critics. The final straw appeared to be Sonko's public rebuke of Faye's handling of Senegal's debt crisis during a parliamentary session on Tuesday.
The country's public debt has ballooned to 132% of GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has frozen its $1.8 billion lending program with Senegal as a result. The economic strain has added urgency to the political turmoil.
Uncertainty ahead
No details have been released regarding the appointment of a new prime minister or the formation of a successor government. The abrupt dissolution leaves Senegal's political future in limbo as it grapples with both internal divisions and external economic pressures.
