In a significant political development for Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye officially terminated the mandate of his Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, and his entire cabinet late Friday evening. This decisive action, carried out by presidential decree, follows a period of escalating disagreements between the head of state and his former political mentor.

The announcement was made public through a statement broadcast on national television, delivered by Oumar Samba Ba, the Secretary General of the Presidency. The declaration explicitly stated that President Faye “has ended the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Premier ministre, and consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who were members of the government.”

It further stipulated that the outgoing government members are tasked with managing day-to-day affairs until a new cabinet is appointed.

Ousmane Sonko, a formidable adversary of former President Macky Sall (who served from 2012 to 2024), faced disqualification from the February 2024 presidential election. This came after a defamation conviction led to the revocation of his civil rights, a situation that fueled widespread public protests against President Sall and the contentious prospect of him seeking a third term.

Following his disqualification, Sonko had strategically endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his successor in the presidential race. However, since Faye’s electoral victory, a discernible strain has developed between the newly elected president and his charismatic former mentor, whose significant influence and political backing were instrumental in propelling their alliance to power.

Sonko’s compelling pan-Africanist rhetoric resonated deeply with Senegal’s disillusioned youth, generating fervent support in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential contest, especially after months of intense political struggle with the Macky Sall administration.

Reacting swiftly on his Facebook account, Sonko posted, “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight I will sleep with a light heart in Cité Keur Gorgui,” referring to the Dakar neighborhood where his residence is located.

Moments after the news of his dismissal broke, social media platforms were flooded with videos depicting Sonko’s supporters converging on his home, chanting his name in a show of solidarity.

For several months, the underlying tensions between the head of state and the head of government had become increasingly apparent, casting a shadow over the prospects of a harmonious working relationship.

Despite this executive change, Sonko’s political party maintains a strong majority in the Senegalese National Assembly, having secured a landslide victory in the legislative elections held in November 2024.