The Senegalese presidency announced in a late-night television broadcast that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had terminated the mandate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the entire government. Secretary-General of the Presidency, Oumar Samba Ba, made the announcement, stating that outgoing ministers would now handle “current affairs” until further notice.

From political ally to rival

The abrupt dismissal marks a dramatic fallout between two men who had once joined forces to seize power in 2024. Ousmane Sonko, barred from running in the presidential election due to a judicial conviction, had endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his substitute candidate against outgoing President Macky Sall.

Sonko’s rise was fueled by strong youth support and a bold panafricanist agenda, which played a pivotal role in securing the new administration’s victory. However, over recent months, visible cracks in the relationship between the head of state and his former mentor have widened significantly.

Immediate reaction from Sonko

Within minutes of the announcement, Ousmane Sonko took to Facebook, posting: “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep with a light heart.”

Soon after, social media footage showed his supporters gathering outside his Dakar residence, chanting his name in celebration.

The dismissal plunges Senegal into a period of profound political uncertainty, particularly as Sonko’s party maintains a dominant majority in the National Assembly following the November 2024 legislative elections.