Senegal’s political landscape saw a significant shake-up this Friday, May 22, as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced the dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, his former political mentor and ally. This pivotal decision, the culmination of months of escalating tensions between the two leaders, also resulted in the dissolution of the entire government.

In an official statement read on national television by the presidency’s secretary-general, President Faye declared that he had “ended the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who were members of the government.” The statement further specified that “the members of the outgoing government are tasked with managing current affairs.” No immediate details were provided regarding the appointment of a new Prime Minister, leaving the nation awaiting its next cabinet.

The relationship between President Faye and the charismatic Prime Minister Sonko, whose considerable influence was instrumental in their joint ascent to power in April 2024, had been increasingly strained. Sonko, a staunch opponent of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024), was prevented from running in the 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction that led to the loss of his civic rights. It was then that he designated Bassirou Diomaye Faye to replace him in the electoral race, a move that ultimately propelled them both to victory and reshaped African politics.

However, by early May, President Faye had publicly criticized what he termed the “excessive personalization” of his Prime Minister within the ruling party. In a televised interview, he had explicitly stated, “As long as he remains Prime Minister, it is because he enjoys my trust. When that is no longer the case, there will be a new Prime Minister.” Reacting swiftly to the news on Friday, Ousmane Sonko posted on his Facebook account, “Alhamdoulillah. Ce soir je dormirai le cœur léger à la cité Keur Gorgui,” referring to his residence in Dakar, a statement that quickly resonated across pan-African current affairs discussions.