Senegal’s President Ends Ousmane Sonko’s Term as Prime Minister
The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has dismissed his Prime Minister and former ally Ousmane Sonko, marking the end of a turbulent chapter in the nation’s political landscape. The decision, announced through a televised address by the presidential secretary-general Oumar Samba Ba on Friday evening, stated that Sonko’s tenure as Prime Minister had concluded, along with the positions of all ministers and state secretaries in the government.
The outgoing officials have been instructed to manage current affairs until further notice, though no timeline or successor has been named for Sonko’s replacement.
Rising Tensions and Political Background
Since their ascent to power in April 2024, President Faye and Prime Minister Sonko had been locked in a power struggle that intensified over recent months. Sonko, a charismatic opposition figure known for his fierce opposition to former President Macky Sall, played a pivotal role in propelling Faye to victory in the 2024 presidential election. Sonko himself was barred from running due to a 2024 defamation conviction that stripped him of his civil rights. Instead, he backed Faye, who adopted a panafricanist rhetoric and resonated deeply with Senegal’s disillusioned youth.
From Prison to Power
Both Faye and Sonko were released from prison in early 2024 under an amnesty law aimed at easing political tensions, campaigning together under the slogan
