Senegal political tension grows as sonko threatens to topple faye’s government

a fiery speech in Mbacké

Tensions escalated sharply in Senegal’s political arena when Ousmane Sonko, now President of the National Assembly, delivered a scathing address in Mbacké on July 12. The former Prime Minister, once a close ally of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, accused the government of abandoning key campaign promises, particularly the sovereign renegotiation of oil, gas, and mining contracts.

The speech, widely shared across social media the following day, framed the government’s inaction as a betrayal of the Pastef coalition’s founding ideals. Sonko also alleged systemic corruption within state institutions, warning that his next move will be a formal no-confidence motion to force the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô, who took office on May 25.

the rift that began in may

This public confrontation is the latest chapter in a dramatic split that began on May 22, when President Faye abruptly dismissed Sonko from the premiership and dissolved the entire government. The decision stunned the nation, as the two had been seen as inseparable pillars of the Pastef movement since Faye’s victory in the March 2024 presidential election.

Within days, Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô was appointed Prime Minister, while Sonko was elevated to the presidency of the National Assembly—a strategic yet indirect role. Far from fading into the background, Sonko has used this platform to intensify his criticism, keeping constant pressure on the executive branch.

mayors rally behind the president

As Sonko’s rhetoric grows sharper, President Faye is shoring up local support. On July 12, coinciding with Sonko’s Mbacké rally, ten of the sixteen mayors in Mbour department publicly endorsed the head of state. This show of strength comes as Faye pushes to build a new political base, distinct from the original Pastef movement.

The party’s founding congress is scheduled for August 8, 2026, at Dakar Arena, signaling Faye’s intent to fully break away from Sonko’s influence and the legacy party that once united them.

a widening battlefront

Sonko’s criticism extends beyond resource contracts. He also condemned the Constitutional Council’s seven judges for striking down a constitutional reform, directly implicating President Faye in the decision. The confrontation is now a direct challenge, despite both men emerging from the same political movement.

Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô has not remained silent. In response to Sonko’s allegations, he took to social media to denounce the politicization of patriotism, highlighting the executive’s resolve to resist destabilization.

the senegalese context

Senegal, a nation of 18 million in West Africa’s far west, underwent a historic political shift in March 2024 with the election of Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The young president, backed by the Pastef movement and its leader Ousmane Sonko, vowed to end the practices of the previous regime and assert greater control over natural resources, including newly discovered offshore oil and gas fields near Dakar.

Mbacké, where Sonko delivered his July 12 speech, is a religious city in the Diourbel region and the spiritual heart of the Mouride brotherhood, a powerful Sufi order in Senegal. Touba, the neighboring holy city, is a critical electoral battleground. Sonko’s presence in this area is deliberate, aiming to strengthen his support in a region where President Faye is also seeking to establish his own influence.

the feasibility of a no-confidence vote

A no-confidence motion is not an empty threat—Ousmane Sonko, as President of the National Assembly, holds procedural tools to initiate such a move. The real question is whether he commands enough votes in the Assembly to succeed. The Pastef coalition currently holds a comfortable majority following legislative elections, but the challenge now is determining how many lawmakers will follow Sonko in defying a president from their own movement.

The standoff between the two leaders continues, with the renegotiation of multinational contracts and the future political direction of post-transition Senegal hanging in the balance. August 8, the date of Faye’s party launch, could mark a pivotal moment in a crisis that is tearing apart the coalition that brought change to power.