In a decisive administrative move, the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has terminated the mandate of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the entire government through an official decree issued late Friday. The announcement, delivered via a televised address by Presidential Secretary General Oumar Samba Ba, stated that the President “has ended the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and state secretaries in the government.”
According to the statement, the outgoing officials have been instructed to “handle current affairs” until further notice. This abrupt decision follows months of escalating tensions between the head of state and his former mentor, whose political influence had been instrumental in securing the presidency for Faye.
A political rivalry with deep roots
Once a prominent opposition figure under former President Macky Sall (2012–2024), Ousmane Sonko was barred from contesting the February 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction that stripped him of his civil rights. Mass protests erupted across the country, fueled by public opposition to Sall’s potential bid for a third term. In response, Sonko endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye, whose subsequent electoral victory marked the beginning of a complex partnership.
Sonko, known for his fiery panafricanist rhetoric, had cultivated a devoted following among Senegal’s disillusioned youth, energizing the 2024 campaign trail and sustaining pressure on the previous administration. His charismatic leadership and uncompromising stance against perceived corruption resonated deeply with a generation seeking change.
However, relations between the two leaders deteriorated steadily. The President’s recent actions suggest a decisive break from Sonko’s once-dominant political shadow, despite the latter’s party retaining an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly following the November 2024 legislative elections.
Public reaction and immediate fallout
Within moments of the announcement, Sonko took to social media to express relief, declaring on Facebook: “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight, I will sleep peacefully in the Keur Gorgui district,” referring to his residence in Dakar. Videos swiftly circulated online showing jubilant supporters converging on his home, chanting his name in celebration of his dismissal.
The move has sent shockwaves through Senegal’s political landscape, leaving analysts and citizens alike to speculate on the motivations behind the President’s decision and the potential reshaping of the country’s governance in the months ahead.
