Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye terminated the mandate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko—his former mentor and political ally—along with the entire government on Friday evening, following months of escalating tensions between the two leaders.

In a televised address delivered by Presidential Secretary General Oumar Samba Ba, Faye announced that Sonko’s tenure as Prime Minister had concluded, thereby ending the roles of all ministers and state secretaries in the outgoing administration.

The dismissed officials have been instructed to manage only current affairs until further notice, according to the statement.

Sonko, once a fierce opponent of former President Macky Sall (2012–2024), was barred from contesting the February 2024 presidential election after a defamation conviction stripped him of his civic rights. His disqualification sparked nationwide protests against Sall’s potential bid for a controversial third term.

Following Sonko’s electoral exclusion, he endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his successor. Though the political alliance propelled Faye to victory, the once-cohesive partnership between president and prime minister has since unraveled, marked by growing friction over governance and policy direction.

Sonko’s charismatic populist rhetoric, steeped in pan-Africanist ideals, galvanized Senegal’s disillusioned youth ahead of the 2024 election and during months of confrontation with Sall’s administration.

Upon learning of his dismissal, Sonko took to Facebook, declaring, “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep soundly at the Keur Gorgui residence,” referring to his home in Dakar’s bustling Yoff district.

Almost immediately, videos circulated online showing Sonko’s supporters flocking to his residence, chanting his name in defiance of the government’s decision.

The growing public rift between Faye and Sonko had become undeniable in recent months, casting doubts over their ability to sustain a functional working relationship.

Sonko’s political party, which swept the November 2024 legislative elections by a landslide, holds a dominant majority in Senegal’s National Assembly.