Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced Friday evening the dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, ending months of escalating tensions between the two leaders who rose to power together in April 2024 on a wave of popular hope.

The president’s announcement was delivered on national television by the secretary-general of the presidency, Oumar Samba Ba. In his statement, Faye declared that he had “terminated the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state in the government.”

The outgoing government has been instructed to handle only current affairs until further notice, with no timeline provided for the appointment of a successor.

Tensions between the president and his former mentor and charismatic prime minister have been steadily growing since Faye’s election. Sonko’s considerable influence played a key role in propelling the duo to victory in the 2024 presidential race.

Sonko, a fierce opponent of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024), had been barred from running in the 2024 election due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of his civil rights. He subsequently endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye to take his place in the race.

With a panafricanist rhetoric that resonated deeply with Senegal’s disillusioned youth, Sonko galvanized passionate support ahead of the election. His months-long standoff with Macky Sall’s administration, marked by violent crackdowns on protests against a potential third term for Sall, further fueled his rising popularity.

Following their release from prison under an amnesty law aimed at easing years of political tensions, the two men campaigned under the slogan “Diomaye Moy Sonko”—”Diomaye is Sonko” in Wolof.

Spontaneous celebrations erupt

“Alhamdoulillah. Tonight I will sleep with a light heart in Keur Gorgui,” Sonko wrote on Facebook, referring to his residence in the Dakar neighborhood. Hundreds of his supporters rushed to his home Friday evening to celebrate his dismissal, according to reports.

Earlier in the day, the outgoing prime minister had taken aim at “Western tyranny,” accusing it of attempting to “impose homosexuality on the rest of the world” during a parliamentary address. This came weeks after Senegal, a predominantly Muslim West African nation, passed a law toughening penalties for same-sex relations.

The public rift between the head of state and the head of government had become increasingly visible in recent months, making any prospect of reconciliation appear increasingly unlikely.

At the beginning of the month, the president had criticized the “excessive personalization” of his prime minister within the ruling party.

“As long as he remains Prime Minister, it is because he has my trust. When that is no longer the case, there will be a new Prime Minister,” Faye stated in a televised interview.

Sonko’s party holds a commanding majority in Senegal’s National Assembly following a landslide victory in the November 2024 legislative elections.

Weeks ago, parliament paved the way for Sonko’s potential presidential bid in 2029 by passing an electoral code reform that was subsequently signed into law by the president. The opposition has condemned the reform as a move to benefit Sonko.

In July 2025, Senegal’s Supreme Court rejected a challenge by Sonko, then serving as Prime Minister since April 2024, against his conviction, reigniting debates over his eligibility.

Despite this setback, Sonko was elected to the National Assembly in the November 2024 legislative elections before opting to forgo his mandate to remain Prime Minister. His party argues this makes him eligible to run in 2029. Local elections are scheduled for 2027, followed by the presidential election in 2029.

While Faye lacks the same level of popular fervor as Sonko, the “Diomaye President” movement has gathered momentum over recent months, suggesting he may also consider a 2029 candidacy.

Since assuming office, the new leadership has faced significant economic challenges, including a massive debt inherited from the previous administration. According to the International Monetary Fund, Senegal’s debt stands at 132% of GDP, making it the second most indebted country in sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2024, the opposition-led government accused the outgoing administration of concealing the true state of the country’s finances, leading to the suspension of a $1.8 billion IMF support program.