A significant political shift is unfolding in Senegal, following President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s decision on Friday, May 22, to dismiss his long-standing ally, Ousmane Sonko, and his entire government. This weekend saw the former Prime Minister reclaim his mandate as a member of parliament. Concurrently, Malick Ndiaye, the President of the National Assembly, tendered his resignation. The election for the new Assembly President is anticipated for Tuesday, with Ousmane Sonko as a potential candidate. This series of events clearly signals a looming power struggle between the executive and legislative branches of government.
The dissolution of the Faye-Sonko alliance appears to have been an inevitable development. The fundamental structure of their partnership contained an inherent and irreconcilable contradiction. This was not due to a lack of individual talent or drastically differing political visions. Rather, a republic’s executive power, by its very nature, is unitary, not designed for two strong leaders to operate as simultaneous improvisers without a shared framework. African history, from figures like Nkrumah to Sankara, or Modibo Keïta to Laurent-Désiré Kabila, demonstrates that cohabitations at the highest levels, involving two wills of equal force, often culminate in the removal of one or the downfall of both.
From initial cracks to full rupture
Indeed, this current situation is the culmination of months of underlying tensions between the two prominent figures, who ascended to power in April 2024 amidst widespread public hope. The political separation had, in fact, been brewing since last July, when the first fractures within the ruling tandem became apparent. At that time, Ousmane Sonko had publicly voiced concerns about a “problem of authority,” alleging that the President was not adequately defending him against political attacks. The definitive break occurred just hours after a parliamentary session where the former head of government openly challenged several presidential decisions, notably regarding the management of political funds, asserting that the President had “made a mistake.”
Executive versus legislative showdown?
The question now arises: has the former Prime Minister effectively become the President’s primary political adversary? Bolstered by considerable popular support, Ousmane Sonko undeniably represents a significant challenge to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The next chapter in this unfolding dynamic will likely play out within the legislative chamber. As Moussa Diaw, a professor of political science at Gaston-Berger University in Saint-Louis, observes, “The political battle risks shifting to the National Assembly, evolving into a standoff between the head of state and the legislative body.” According to Professor Diaw, there is a considerable risk of governmental gridlock, especially as the executive is poised to introduce a series of institutional reforms. Four crucial legislative texts concerning constitutional revision, the Constitutional Court, political parties, and the establishment of an independent national electoral commission are slated for presentation before the National Assembly. Such a scenario would leave the head of state with very limited room for maneuver.
This situation now pits Pastef, the party largely controlled by Ousmane Sonko, against the presidential coalition led by Diomaye Faye. Essentially, it’s the Executive versus the Legislative in what could become an intense struggle between majority powers, with the municipal elections of 2027 and, more importantly, the presidential election of 2029 firmly in sight. Among Sonko’s supporters, particularly the youth of Senegal who had placed their faith in the Faye-Sonko partnership, there is a palpable sense of doubt, anger, and disillusionment, leaving them uncertain about their future political direction.
Could Ousmane Sonko emerge victorious?
The test of strength has begun, and it could potentially swing in Ousmane Sonko’s favor, according to Adrien Poussou, a geopolitical analyst and former Central African Minister of Communication. Poussou asserts that Senegal’s current political reality is undeniable: Pastef holds a dominant position on the national stage, thanks to its exceptional grassroots organization, a vibrant and mobilized youth base, and a powerful narrative honed during years of confrontation with the previous Macky Sall administration. Within this dynamic, Sonko remains the pivotal figure. Even when previously constrained by legal challenges and absent from presidential ballots, the hope for change largely coalesced around him. While President Faye certainly possesses institutional legitimacy, Poussou cautions that his former Prime Minister retains a formidable popular and militant legitimacy. In any future political or electoral confrontation, this factor could prove decisive.
