Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye terminated the mandate of his prime minister and former ally Ousmane Sonko late Friday, ending months of escalating tensions between the two leaders who rose to power in April 2024 on a wave of popular hope.

The announcement came in a televised statement delivered by presidential secretary-general Oumar Samba Ba, who declared that “the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister and, consequently, those of all cabinet ministers and secretaries of state have been terminated.” The outgoing officials have been tasked with handling current affairs until further notice.

No timeline was provided for the appointment of a successor.

Tensions between President Faye and Prime Minister Sonko had intensified since the president’s election. Once a mentor to the president, Sonko’s considerable influence helped propel the duo to victory. But their partnership has steadily deteriorated.

Sonko, a fierce opponent of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024), was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election following a defamation conviction that stripped him of civic rights. He subsequently backed Faye to replace him in the race.

With a panafricanist rhetoric that resonated powerfully among Senegal’s disillusioned youth, Sonko galvanized support ahead of the vote. His candidacy sparked months of fierce confrontations with the outgoing administration, which had violently suppressed protests against Sall’s potential bid for a third term.

Both men were released from prison just weeks before the election under an amnesty law aimed at easing years of political strife. Their campaign slogan, “Diomaye Moy Sonko,” meaning “Diomaye is Sonko” in Wolof, underscored their political alliance.

Spontaneous celebrations erupt

“Alhamdoulillah. Tonight I will sleep with a light heart at the Keur Gorgui residence,” Sonko declared on Facebook immediately after the announcement, referring to his home in a Dakar neighborhood. Hundreds of his supporters rushed to the area to cheer his dismissal, according to local reporters.

Earlier that day, the outgoing prime minister had accused Western powers 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, adopted a law toughening penalties for same-sex relations.

Public tensions between the head of state and the head of government had become increasingly visible in recent months, making any reconciliation seem unlikely.

Earlier this month, the president criticized what he described as Sonko’s “excessive personalization” of the ruling party. “As long as he remains Prime Minister, it is because he has my confidence. When that is no longer the case, there will be a new Prime Minister,” Faye stated in a televised interview.

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

Weeks ago, parliament paved the way for Sonko’s potential 2029 presidential run by approving an electoral code reform signed into law by the president. The opposition condemned the move as a blatant favor to Sonko. In July 2025, Senegal’s Supreme Court rejected Sonko’s appeal against his conviction, reigniting debates about his eligibility despite his election as a deputy in November 2024.

Local elections are scheduled for 2027, with presidential elections to follow in 2029.

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

Since taking office, the administration has faced severe economic challenges, inheriting a massive debt equivalent to 132% of GDP according to the International Monetary Fund, making Senegal the second most indebted country in sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2024, the new government accused the previous administration under Macky Sall of concealing the true state of public finances, leading to the suspension of a $1.8 billion IMF support program.