President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has unveiled a newly formed government in Senegal, excluding members from the ruling party PASTEF, led by his former Prime Minister and longtime ally Ousmane Sonko. The announcement follows a public disagreement between the two leaders over the composition of the cabinet.

This decision comes just 12 days after President Faye dismissed Sonko from his position, only for him to be swiftly appointed President of the National Assembly. Their relationship, once a cornerstone of political collaboration, has deteriorated over months of escalating tensions, plunging the nation into a period of heightened political uncertainty amid severe economic challenges.

Sonko has been replaced by Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô, whose 30-member cabinet notably lacks several prominent figures from the ruling PASTEF party who were part of the previous administration. In a statement released on social media, Sonko confirmed that PASTEF would not be part of the new government.

“This morning, a lengthy meeting took place between the President of the Republic and myself as party leader. While some areas of agreement were reached, significant points of disagreement remain, particularly regarding the role and influence of the majority in the executive structure,” Sonko stated in the announcement.

The communiqué continued, “Following consultations with party officials, new proposals were submitted to the President, but no favorable response was received. As a result, PASTEF – Les Patriotes will not participate in the next government and will not be represented by any ministers.”

The political rift coincides with Senegal’s ongoing struggle to address economic difficulties stemming from a 2024 revelation of underreported national debt by the previous administration. The International Monetary Fund has suspended a $1.8 billion loan program, pushing the country’s debt to 132% of its GDP by the end of 2024. The Finance Minister recently indicated that discussions with the IMF are set to resume next week, with an expected resolution on critical points by June 30.