President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has reshaped Senegal’s leadership structure, forming a new cabinet on June 1st that notably excludes the ruling Pastef party, led by his former Prime Minister and longtime ally Ousmane Sonko. A sharp disagreement over ministerial appointments reportedly derailed the negotiations between the two political figures.

The announcement follows Sonko’s dismissal from his premiership just twelve days prior, after which he was elected Speaker of the National Assembly. Their growing rift has plunged Senegal into a period of heightened political uncertainty, compounding existing economic pressures.

Pastef’s absence from the government lineup marks a significant departure from recent political alignments. Party leader Sonko confirmed the decision in a public statement, citing unresolved disputes regarding the distribution of executive roles and the strategic positioning of the majority bloc within the new administration.

In the statement, Sonko explained that despite productive discussions with the President, critical differences persisted over the scope of influence granted to the ruling party in the new government. “After internal consultations, revised proposals were submitted to the President, but no favorable response was received,” he stated. “Therefore, PASTEF – Les Patriotes will not participate in the next government and will not be represented by any ministers.”

Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô, a prominent figure within the administration, has been appointed to lead the new cabinet, which includes 30 ministers. The reshuffle reflects a deliberate shift away from key Pastef members who served in the previous administration.

The political rupture comes at a time when Senegal faces mounting economic challenges. Since the revelation of a debt underreporting scandal by the previous government in 2024, the country has faced severe financial strain. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) suspended a $1.8 billion loan program, pushing Senegal’s debt to 132% of its GDP by the end of 2024. The Finance Minister has indicated that negotiations with the IMF will resume next week, with the goal of reaching a critical agreement by June 30th.