President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is firmly asserting control over key state mechanisms, a month after reshuffling his cabinet and removing Ousmane Sonko from the Prime Minister’s office. A recent report detailed the head of state’s abrupt leadership changes at Petrosen Holding and Somisen, signaling a clear pivot towards technical expertise over political affiliations from the Pastef party.
The evolving dynamics at the highest echelons of government are now reverberating through the national economy. On July 1, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye initiated a significant overhaul of governance within Senegal’s national oil company, Petrosen Holding, and the Senegalese Mining Company, Somisen. This strategic maneuver has been closely observed and analyzed by commentators.
At Petrosen Holding, Alioune Gueye has been succeeded by Thierno Seydou Ly, while Mamady Touré has taken the helm at Somisen, replacing Ngagne Demba Touré. “The inevitable cut seemed imminent; only its timing remained uncertain until now,” remarked an insider close to the administration. According to individuals familiar with the outgoing officials, both were reportedly informed of their dismissal through media channels, without prior notification from the presidential office.
The conclusion of Pastef’s influence in public enterprises
While the Presidency has refrained from offering an official explanation for these executive changes, observers note that this shift aligns with the “strained relations between the President of the Republic and the Speaker of the National Assembly.” It is understood that Alioune Gueye, a former Pastef coordinator in the United States, and Ngagne Demba Touré, previously the leader of the party’s patriotic youth, are now facing consequences for their unwavering loyalty to Ousmane Sonko.
This situation marks a stark contrast to the initial phase of the presidency in 2024, when Bassirou Diomaye Faye had granted Ousmane Sonko considerable latitude to nominate Pastef cadres to lead ministries and public entities.
Notably, the appointment of Thierno Seydou Ly to head Petrosen Holding appears to be a political reversal. In March 2025, Ousmane Sonko had reportedly orchestrated Ly’s removal from the leadership of Petrosen Exploration-Production, aiming to dislodge officials appointed during the previous Macky Sall administration. Furthermore, Ly was said to have experienced “difficult relations with Alioune Gueye, his hierarchical superior.”
Technical acumen to reassure international partners
Amidst ongoing efforts to “revise extractive contracts” signed under the previous government, President Faye is now evidently placing his trust in technocratic profiles rather than political appointees. While Alioune Gueye was a chartered accountant and Ngagne Demba Touré a jurist, their successors are recognized experts in their respective fields. Thierno Seydou Ly is a seasoned petroleum engineer with a background at TotalEnergies, and Mamady Touré, a geological engineer, previously directed an engineering and training firm specializing in geosciences and mining.
The rationale behind this strategic reorientation is clear: to instill confidence in foreign investors while continuing critical negotiations. “The two new leaders also stand out for their less divisive profiles and a more diplomatic approach with international partners,” added a source familiar with the matter.
Speculation now turns to potential future targets of this presidential restructuring. Given their known proximity to Ousmane Sonko, Waly Diouf Bodiang, the Director General of the Autonomous Port of Dakar, and Fadilou Keïta, who heads the Caisse des dépôts et consignations (CDC), “could also be affected by these leadership adjustments.”
