Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government following months of growing tensions between the two leaders.
The decision was announced in a presidential decree read on national television by a presidential aide, stating that President Faye had “ended the duties” of Sonko and, consequently, those of all ministers and secretaries of state serving in the government.
The dramatic political split marks a major turning point in Senegal politics, particularly given the close alliance that had previously existed between the two men.
Sonko, who remains highly popular among Senegalese youth and supporters of the ruling PASTEF party, reacted shortly after the announcement by posting on social media that he would “sleep with a light heart.”
The dismissal followed a tense parliamentary session during which Sonko openly criticized President Faye’s handling of Senegal’s worsening debt crisis.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Senegal’s public debt has reached approximately 132 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, placing significant pressure on the economy.
The IMF has already frozen a $1.8 billion lending programme with Senegal amid concerns over the country’s financial situation.
Observers say tensions between Faye and Sonko had been building for months, with reports indicating that the president had privately criticized what he viewed as Sonko’s growing personal influence within the ruling party.
Sonko, on the other hand, had accused Faye of weak leadership and failing to defend him against political attacks.
Late Tuesday night, hundreds of students reportedly took to the streets of Dakar in support of Sonko following news of his dismissal.
Authorities have not yet announced who will replace Sonko as prime minister, leaving uncertainty over the future direction of the government as Senegal navigates political divisions and mounting economic challenges.
