Senegal’s president sacks prime minister Ousmane Sonko amid rising tensions

Dakar — President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and his entire government by decree, following months of escalating tensions between the two leaders. The announcement was made late Friday evening through a televised statement delivered by Oumar Samba Ba, Secretary General of the Presidency.

According to the declaration, President Faye “terminated the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister, and consequently those of all ministers and state secretaries serving in the government.” The outgoing officials have been instructed to handle only routine administrative matters until a new cabinet is formed.

The decision follows a long-standing rift between the president and his former mentor and political ally, Ousmane Sonko. Once a prominent opposition figure under former President Macky Sall’s administration (2012–2024), Sonko was barred from running in the February 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of his civic rights. His exclusion sparked widespread protests against Sall’s potential bid for a controversial third term.

With Sonko unable to contest, Bassirou Diomaye Faye emerged as his replacement, eventually winning the presidency. However, the alliance between the two has deteriorated significantly since then, as power struggles and policy disagreements intensified behind closed doors.

Sonko, known for his fiery panafricanist rhetoric, had galvanized Senegal’s disillusioned youth ahead of the 2024 election. His ability to mobilize supporters played a pivotal role in propelling both him and Faye into power. Upon learning of his dismissal, Sonko took to Facebook to express relief, stating in a post: “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep peacefully in Keur Gorgui,” referring to his residence in Dakar’s vibrant neighborhood.

Videos circulating on social media showed jubilant crowds rushing to Sonko’s home in the hours after the announcement, chanting his name in a show of unwavering loyalty. The development underscores the deepening divide between the country’s executive leadership and its most influential political force.

The tensions reached a breaking point as Sonko’s party, which commands an overwhelming majority in Senegal’s National Assembly following its landslide victory in the November 2024 legislative elections, continued to challenge the president’s authority.