After months of growing tension, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Ousmane Sonko, his former mentor and the charismatic leader of the Pastef party. The move comes after their once-unbreakable alliance showed visible cracks. Elected in March 2024 with 54% of the vote in the first round, Faye owed much of his victory to Sonko, who had been barred from running due to a defamation conviction that rendered him ineligible.

At the height of their partnership, the two leaders shared an unmistakable bond, encapsulated in the slogan « Diomaye moy Sonko, Sonko doy Diomaye » (« Diomaye is Sonko, Sonko is Diomaye »). Their joint ascent to power—just ten days after their release from prison—sparked national optimism, as Senegalese hoped to move past years of political turmoil and social unrest. The promise of systemic reform and corruption eradication initially granted them a honeymoon period, which has now come to an abrupt end.

Their alliance quickly unraveled as Sonko overshadowed his protégé. Clashing ambitions ahead of the 2029 presidential election stifled progress on key reforms. The president and his prime minister were particularly divided over strategies to address Senegal’s crippling debt—currently the second-highest in Sub-Saharan Africa at 132% of GDP, a legacy of past administrations.

A rivalry that threatens Senegal’s stability

The dismissal of Ousmane Sonko has plunged Senegal into uncharted political waters. President Faye now faces the challenge of governing without the support of the Pastef party, which still commands a commanding majority in the National Assembly (130 out of 165 seats). Even in the absence of his former role, Sonko remains the true victor of the 2024 election.

« Sonko embodies a generation’s aspirations for change, advocating for sovereignty without succumbing to the corruption or power grabs seen elsewhere in Africa, » noted Pascal Boniface, director of the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS), following a debate with Sonko in Dakar last April. « He is not anti-French but champions a redefined partnership based on mutual respect. His vision offers Senegal a path forward despite its considerable economic challenges. »