Senegal’s president faye dismisses prime minister sonko amid rising tensions

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal officially terminated the tenure of his Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, along with the entire government, late Friday evening. This significant decision, formalized by decree, follows a period of escalating disagreements between the two prominent political figures.

The announcement, delivered on national television by Oumar Samba Ba, the Secretary General of the Presidency, confirmed that the President “has ended the duties of Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who were members of the government.”

The statement further clarified that members of the outgoing administration are temporarily tasked with overseeing day-to-day government operations.

Previously a staunch adversary of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024), Mr. Sonko found himself barred from contesting the February 2024 presidential election. This disqualification stemmed from a defamation conviction that resulted in the loss of his civil rights, sparking widespread public protests against President Sall and the contentious prospect of him seeking a third term.

In a pivotal move, Mr. Sonko subsequently endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his chosen successor. However, since President Faye’s electoral victory, the relationship between the head of state and his charismatic former mentor, whose substantial influence was instrumental in their ascent to power, has been marked by increasing friction.

Ousmane Sonko’s compelling pan-Africanist rhetoric had ignited fervent support among Senegal’s disillusioned youth, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential contest and following months of intense political struggle against Macky Sall’s administration.

Reacting swiftly to the news, Mr. Sonko posted on his Facebook account, stating, “Alhamdoulillah. Ce soir je dormirai le cœur léger à la cité Keur Gorgui,” referring to his Dakar residence.

Social media platforms quickly showed videos of Mr. Sonko’s supporters converging on his home, chanting his name just moments after the announcement of his dismissal from the government.

For many months, the growing discord between the head of state and the head of government had become publicly apparent, casting a shadow of uncertainty over their future collaboration within African politics.

Mr. Sonko’s political party holds a commanding majority in the Senegalese National Assembly, a position secured through an overwhelming victory in the November 2024 legislative elections.