Senegal’s president fires Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko amid deepening political rifts

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal has terminated the mandate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and his entire cabinet in a decisive move announced Friday evening through an official decree. This decisive action follows months of escalating tensions between the two political figures who once formed a powerful partnership.

The announcement was delivered through a formal statement broadcast on national television by the Secretary General of the Presidency, Oumar Samba Ba. According to the decree, President Faye “has ended the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister, and consequently those of all ministers and state secretaries serving in the government.” The outgoing cabinet has been instructed to handle only current administrative matters until a new administration is formed.

Ousmane Sonko’s political journey to this moment has been marked by dramatic turns. Once a fierce opponent of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024), Sonko was barred from contesting the February 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of civil rights. This legal setback triggered widespread protests against President Sall’s potential bid for a controversial third term in office.

Facing electoral disqualification, Sonko strategically positioned Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his replacement. The gamble paid off handsomely when Faye won the presidential election. However, the alliance between the two men has since deteriorated significantly, with their once-close relationship fracturing under the weight of political differences.

Sonko’s emergence as a charismatic opposition leader had ignited passionate support among Senegal’s disillusioned youth, particularly ahead of the 2024 presidential contest. His panafricanist rhetoric resonated deeply with a generation seeking change after years of political stagnation under Macky Sall’s administration.

In an immediate response to his dismissal, Sonko took to social media with a message of relief: “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight I will sleep peacefully in Keur Gorgui,” referring to his residence in Dakar. The sentiment was echoed by his supporters, who gathered outside his home in spontaneous demonstrations, chanting his name and expressing their solidarity.

The political rupture between President Faye and Prime Minister Sonko had become increasingly apparent in recent months, making any prospect of reconciliation appear increasingly unlikely. Adding another layer of complexity, Sonko’s political party commands an overwhelming majority in Senegal’s National Assembly following a landslide victory in the November 2024 legislative elections.