On Friday, May 22, President Faye formally terminated the mandate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, along with that of the entire government cabinet. The announcement, confirming the sweeping changes, was broadcast nationwide on state television by Oumar Samba Ba, the presidential secretary general.

According to the presidential decree, the outgoing ministers have been instructed to manage “current affairs” until a new administration is appointed.

From political ally to government rival

This move signals a profound rift between the two prominent figures who had jointly ascended to power in 2024. Ousmane Sonko, having been legally barred from running in the presidential election, had strategically endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as the substitute candidate against then-incumbent President Macky Sall.

Fueled by immense popularity among Senegal’s youth and championing an assertive pan-Africanist agenda, Sonko played a pivotal role in securing the new leadership’s electoral triumph.

However, over recent months, the underlying friction between the head of state and his former political mentor had become increasingly evident.

Sonko’s immediate public response

Moments after the news of his dismissal broke, Ousmane Sonko took to Facebook to express his reaction: “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep with a light heart.”

Subsequently, various videos circulated across social media platforms, depicting throngs of his supporters converging on his Dakar residence, chanting his name in solidarity.

The sudden departure of Sonko ushers in a period of significant political uncertainty for Senegal, especially considering his party’s commanding majority in the National Assembly, secured during the legislative elections of November 2024.