President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has unveiled a new government lineup without any representation from the Pastef party, led by his former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The decision follows a reported disagreement between the two leaders over the composition of the cabinet.

This cabinet reshuffle comes just 12 days after President Faye dismissed Ousmane Sonko, who was subsequently elected President of the National Assembly. The move marks the culmination of months of escalating tensions between the two political figures, raising concerns about Senegal’s political stability amid a severe economic crisis.

Ousmane Sonko has been replaced by Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô as the new Prime Minister. The newly announced cabinet list includes 30 ministers, with several key figures from the ruling Pastef party notably absent. Earlier, Sonko publicly stated that his party would not be part of the new government.

In a statement shared on social media, Sonko explained that while discussions with the President confirmed some areas of agreement, they also revealed significant disagreements, particularly regarding the role and influence of the majority party within the executive structure. “Following the meeting to brief the party’s leadership, new proposals were submitted to the President, but unfortunately received no favorable response,” the statement read.

The communiqué concluded with a firm declaration: “As a result, PASTEF – Les Patriotes will not participate in the next government and will not be represented by any ministers.”

This political rift emerges at a critical time for Senegal, which continues to grapple with severe economic challenges. In 2024, the country faced a major financial setback after it was revealed that the previous administration had underreported its national debt. This revelation prompted the International Monetary Fund to suspend a $1.8 billion loan program. As a result, Senegal’s debt soared to 132% of its GDP by the end of 2024. The Finance Minister recently announced that discussions with the IMF will resume next week, with the goal of reaching a key agreement by June 30.