Senegal political tensions rise as sonko threatens government overthrow

Senegal is witnessing a deepening political crisis as Ousmane Sonko, President of the National Assembly, openly challenges the government led by Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô. During a rally in Touba on Sunday, July 12, Sonko declared his readiness to bring down the government « as many times as necessary. » This bold statement, made public the following day, signals an escalating confrontation between the legislative and executive branches.

Sonko’s criticism targets what he describes as a dangerous shift in the management of Senegal’s strategic resources—oil, gas, and phosphate—allegedly favoring foreign interests over national sovereignty. To counter this, he warned that the Pastef parliamentary majority could introduce a no-confidence motion if the executive continues down this path. Additionally, Sonko announced a legislative proposal by Guy Marius Sagna to submit future resource exploitation contracts to parliamentary approval.

a power struggle over natural resources

The escalating tensions stem from Sonko’s insistence on parliamentary oversight of government decisions, particularly those he views as detrimental to Senegal’s interests. This stance marks a significant shift from his earlier stance on June 3, when he had expressed reluctance to pursue such measures despite disagreements with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

The rift between Sonko and the presidency deepens following the July 9 invalidation of a constitutional reform backed by the parliamentary majority but opposed by Faye. By wielding the threat of a no-confidence motion, Sonko is positioning Parliament as a pivotal force in challenging the executive. This power struggle risks destabilizing governance and plunging Senegal into prolonged institutional conflict.