Senegal president dissolves government after dismissing prime minister Ousmane Sonko

Major political shake-up in Sénégal as Ousmane Sonko leaves office

The political landscape in Sénégal witnessed a seismic shift this Friday, May 22, 2026, as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye officially terminated the mandate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. This high-stakes decision has led to the immediate dissolution of the national government, marking a definitive end to the current administration’s structure.

By signing Decree n° 2026-128, the Head of State has fundamentally reset the executive branch. While the search for a successor begins, the outgoing cabinet members have been tasked with managing essential state affairs on an interim basis. Currently, no specific timeline has been provided regarding when a new Prime Minister or a fresh ministerial team will be announced.

The end of a strained political partnership

This move formalizes a long-standing rift between the two leaders who were once the primary architects of the Pastef movement. Over the past several months, public disagreements and internal friction had become increasingly visible, signaling a breakdown in the alliance that brought them to power. The dismissal of Ousmane Sonko confirms that these ideological and operational differences reached a point of no return, necessitating a complete overhaul of the Sénégal government.