Senegal president sacks prime minister ousmane sonko amid growing tensions

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal has terminated the mandate of his Prime Minister and former ally Ousmane Sonko, following months of escalating discord between the two leaders who rose to power together in April 2024, riding a wave of widespread public hope.

In a televised announcement delivered by the President’s Secretary-General, Oumar Samba Ba, it was declared that the President had “ended the duties of Mr. Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister, along with those of the ministers and state secretaries serving in the government.”

The statement further specified that the outgoing government members would continue to handle “current affairs” until further notice, though no timeline was provided for the appointment of a successor.

Since President Faye’s election, tensions between him and his once-mentor and charismatic Prime Minister had steadily intensified. Sonko’s significant influence had been instrumental in propelling the political duo to power.

Ousmane Sonko, a vocal critic of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024), had been barred from contesting the 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of his civic rights. He subsequently endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his replacement in the race.

Sonko’s panafricanist rhetoric resonated deeply with Senegal’s disillusioned youth, following months of clashes with Macky Sall’s government, which had forcefully suppressed protests against his potential bid for a third term.

Freshly released from prison under an amnesty, Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye campaigned under the slogan “Diomaye Moy Sonko,” meaning “Diomaye is Sonko” in Wolof, symbolizing their unbreakable bond.

Spontaneous rally unfolds in Dakar

“Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep with a light heart in Keur Gorgui,” Sonko posted on Facebook, referring to his neighborhood in Dakar, shortly after the announcement.

Just past midnight, he arrived at his home to the cheers of hundreds of supporters who had gathered to celebrate him, as observed by local reporters.

Earlier that day, the outgoing Prime Minister had addressed Parliament, condemning Western “tyranny,” accusing it of attempting to “impose homosexuality” on the world. This statement came weeks after Senegal, a predominantly Muslim nation, passed a law toughening penalties for same-sex relations.

The rift between the Head of State and his government chief had become increasingly apparent over recent months.

In early May, the President had criticized what he described as the Prime Minister’s “excessive personalization” within the ruling party.

“As long as he remains Prime Minister, it is because he has my trust. When that is no longer the case, there will be a new Prime Minister,” the President had stated in a televised interview.

Sonko’s party has maintained a dominant presence in Senegal’s National Assembly since the November 2024 legislative elections.

By late April, Parliament had approved an electoral code reform, which opposition figures condemned as a move to pave the way for Sonko’s potential 2029 presidential bid.

While President Faye has not garnered the same level of public enthusiasm as his rival, he has cultivated support over recent months through the “Diomaye Président” movement, hinting at a possible candidacy in 2029.

According to the International Monetary Fund, Senegal ranks as the second most indebted country in sub-Saharan Africa, with debt levels reaching 132% of GDP, a burden inherited from the previous administration.

In 2024, the new government accused the outgoing administration of Macky Sall of concealing this financial reality, which led to the suspension of a $1.8 billion IMF aid program.