In a major political shift, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, a former ally turned rival, following months of escalating disputes between the two leaders who rose to power in April 2024 on a wave of public hope.
The announcement was delivered on national television by the presidential secretary general, Oumar Samba Ba, who stated that the president had “terminated the duties of Mr. Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state serving in the government.”
The outgoing administration has been tasked with handling only routine matters until further notice, while no details were provided regarding the appointment of a successor.
The rift between President Faye and Mr. Sonko, once a mentor and charismatic figure, had grown increasingly visible since the latter’s election. Sonko, a vocal opponent of former President Macky Sall, had been barred from running in the 2024 presidential race due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of civil rights. He subsequently endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his substitute in the election.
Ousmane Sonko, known for his fiery panafricanist rhetoric, had inspired a passionate following among Senegal’s disillusioned youth. This surge in popularity came after a period of intense confrontation with Macky Sall’s administration, which had forcefully suppressed protests against potential constitutional changes that could have allowed a third term.
Both Sonko and Faye were released from prison under an amnesty just before the 2024 election, running on the campaign slogan “Diomaye Moy Sonko,” meaning “Diomaye is Sonko” in Wolof.
Spontaneous public gathering
Ousmane Sonko took to Facebook to express his reaction, writing, “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep peacefully in the Keur Gorgui district,” his residence in Dakar.
Witnesses reported that shortly after midnight, Sonko arrived at his home to greet hundreds of supporters who had gathered to celebrate his return.
Earlier that day, the former prime minister had addressed Parliament, condemning what he described as “Western tyranny” for allegedly attempting to “impose homosexuality on the world.” This statement followed the recent passage of legislation increasing penalties for same-sex relations in the predominantly Muslim West African nation.
Public statements and political maneuvers
Tensions between the president and prime minister had been evident for some time. In early May, President Faye publicly criticized what he called Sonko’s “excessive personalization” of the ruling party.
“As long as he remains Prime Minister, it is because he enjoys my trust. When that is no longer the case, there will be a new Prime Minister,” Faye stated in a televised interview.
Sonko’s party holds a dominant majority in Senegal’s National Assembly following the November 2024 legislative elections. By late April, Parliament approved an electoral code reform, criticized by opposition figures, which could pave the way for Sonko’s 2029 presidential bid.
While President Faye has not inspired the same level of public enthusiasm as his former ally, his “Diomaye Président” movement has been gaining traction, suggesting he may also consider running in 2029.
Senegal faces significant economic challenges, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reporting the country as the second most indebted in sub-Saharan Africa. The debt, inherited from the previous administration, stands at 132% of GDP.
In 2024, the current government accused Macky Sall’s administration of concealing the true extent of the debt, leading to the suspension of a $1.8 billion IMF assistance program.
