The Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, abruptly terminated the mandate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Friday evening, shattering the fragile equilibrium that had united the two leaders after the February 2024 presidential election. This move, announced via a televised address delivered by the President’s chief of staff, Oumar Samba Ba, declared «the immediate dismissal of Mr. Ousmane Sonko from his position as Prime Minister, along with all ministers and junior ministers in the outgoing government». The former cabinet members are now tasked with «handling current affairs» until a new administration is sworn in.
This abrupt break marks the end of a political alliance forged in opposition to former President Macky Sall, whose final years in office were defined by fierce clashes with Ousmane Sonko. After being barred from the presidential race due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of his civic rights, the former mayor of Ziguinchor rallied behind Bassirou Diomaye Faye, endorsing him as the candidate for their party—a decision that ultimately paved the way for Faye’s victory.
Growing rivalry drives the split
Since assuming office in Dakar, tensions between the two leaders escalated steadily, fueled by competing ambitions and fundamental disagreements over governance. Ousmane Sonko, a dominant figure in Senegalese politics, commands unwavering support from the country’s youth, who embrace his sovereignist and pan-Africanist rhetoric. This dynamic placed President Faye in a delicate position, as Sonko remained, for many in the ruling party’s base, the true architect of the political shift that brought Faye to power.
Tensions reached a boiling point following the November 2024 legislative elections, which saw the president’s party secure a landslide victory—an outcome closely tied to Sonko’s enduring popularity. In recent weeks, multiple public disagreements between the presidency and the prime minister’s office had fueled speculation that their partnership was unsustainable, making this rupture all but inevitable.
Minutes after the announcement of his dismissal, Ousmane Sonko took to Facebook with a cryptic message: «Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep soundly in Keur Gorgui», referencing the Dakar neighborhood where he resides. Soon after, social media footage captured crowds of supporters gathering outside his home, chanting his name in solidarity.
Parliamentary majority faces uncertainty
The president’s decision plunges Senegal into a period of profound political uncertainty, as Sonko’s faction retains significant influence within the National Assembly. The potential for this personal rift to escalate into an institutional standoff is high, particularly given Sonko’s status as one of the country’s most popular political figures.
The rapid rise of the Faye-Sonko alliance was built on a platform of fierce opposition to the ruling elite, a condemnation of ties with former colonial power France, and a pledge to overhaul the political system. For months, their movement energized urban Senegalese youth, who rallied behind Sonko’s bold calls for transformation.
By removing the man who helped propel him to the presidency, Bassirou Diomaye Faye risks alienating a substantial segment of the militant base whose loyalty remains tied to the former prime minister. In Dakar, the prospect of a swift reshuffling of power dynamics at the highest levels of government is already sparking intense political turbulence—a stark contrast to Senegal’s recent history of institutional resilience amid recurring crises.
