Senegal political tensions rise as diomaye faye reshuffles power

The partnership between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko lasted barely two years. Now, the President has ousted Sonko from the Prime Minister’s office. Elevated instead to the role of National Assembly President, Sonko has also been overwhelmingly re-elected as head of the Pastef party—a legislative majority absent from the government. What led to this rupture? Can a tense cohabitation with the Head of State endure? And do these political clashes risk sidelining the urgent priorities of the Senegalese people?

From allies to rivals: the fallout between Faye and Sonko

The break between two of the most prominent figures in Senegal’s political landscape did not happen overnight. In October 2025, both leaders stood side by side at the Presidential Palace in Dakar, projecting unity. By mid-2026, their relationship had deteriorated beyond repair. The President’s decision to remove Sonko from government marked a decisive turning point, stripping him of a key platform to influence policy.