Senegal political crisis: President sacks PM Sonko
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has terminated the mandate of his Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the entire government in a decisive late-night decree issued on Friday, following months of deepening rifts between the two leaders. The announcement was delivered via a televised statement by presidential secretary general Oumar Samba Ba, who declared that Sonko’s removal from office automatically dissolved the cabinet.
The outgoing officials have been instructed to handle only routine administrative tasks until a new government is formed, according to the presidential decree.
From fierce rival to unexpected ally—and now a sudden fall
Before ascending to power, Ousmane Sonko was a prominent opposition figure under former President Macky Sall’s administration (2012-2024). His disqualification from the February 2024 presidential election—due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of civil rights—sparked mass protests across Senegal against Sall’s potential third-term bid.
With Sonko barred from running, his political ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye became the unexpected presidential candidate and ultimately secured victory. However, the alliance that had once galvanized Senegal’s disillusioned youth with its panafricanist rhetoric began to fracture shortly after Faye took office.
Sonko’s charismatic leadership and loyal following had been instrumental in propelling both men to power, but their once-united front gradually eroded into visible discord.
Sonko reacts with relief as supporters rally
Moments after the announcement, Sonko took to social media to express his relief, posting on Facebook: “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep peacefully in my home at Keur Gorgui,” referencing his residence in Dakar’s Keur Gorgui neighborhood.
Videos swiftly circulated online showing jubilant crowds converging outside Sonko’s home, chanting his name in defiance of the dismissal. The outpouring underscored the enduring influence of his support base, despite his ousting from government.
Parliamentary dominance fuels power struggle
The tensions reached a critical point as Sonko’s political party—holding a commanding majority in Senegal’s National Assembly following a landslide victory in the November 2024 legislative elections—found itself increasingly at odds with the presidency. Reports indicate that the rift had become too wide to bridge, leaving Faye with little choice but to dissolve the government.
