Senegal’s president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, abruptly dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Friday, dissolving the government after months of escalating tensions.

The surprise announcement was delivered on state television via a decree read by presidential advisor Oumar Samba Ba, who stated that Mr. Faye had terminated Mr. Sonko’s duties and, consequently, those of all ministers and deputy ministers in the cabinet.

This move places Senegal in an unprecedented situation, where the president owes much of his political ascent to the very individual he has now removed. Sonko was widely expected to secure the presidency in 2024 had he not been barred from the race due to a prior defamation conviction.

Relations between President Faye and Mr. Sonko, once mentor and protégé, have steadily deteriorated over recent months.

The two leaders share a political lineage, as their party, Pastef, triumphed in the March 2024 elections by pledging sweeping reforms, vowing to combat corruption and mismanagement in public affairs.

Despite Sonko’s immense popularity, particularly among Senegal’s disillusioned youth, President Faye holds the decisive reins of power and can remove his prime minister with a single executive order.

Sonko’s fiery rhetoric and uncompromising stance against France resonated deeply with voters, captivating a generation eager for change.

In a sharp rebuke delivered to Pastef supporters in early July, Sonko accused President Faye of failing to provide adequate backing amid relentless criticism and opposition.