A period of significant political and societal unrest is currently unfolding across Senegal. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye made the decisive move on Friday, May 22, to dismiss his Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, a figure who was once a close political ally and fellow activist. Just days later, on May 26, Sonko secured the speakership of the National Assembly, marking a notable shift in the country’s political landscape. Concurrently, in March 2026, the nation enacted legislation that substantially tightens penalties for homosexuality, sparking further debate and concern within the West African nation.
Senegal faces political and social crossroads
