Senegal political crisis: President Faye reshuffles cabinet, Ousmane Sonko returns to parliament
On May 22, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye made a decisive move by dismissing former ally and long-time collaborator Ousmane Sonko from his cabinet. The very next day, Sonko resumed his duties as a parliamentarian, following his abrupt removal from the prime ministership. In a parallel development, Malick Ndiaye, the President of the National Assembly, tendered his resignation. The stage is now set for Tuesday’s election of a new Assembly president, with Sonko emerging as a potential candidate, signaling an impending power struggle between the executive and legislative branches.
Long-simmering tensions erupt into political turmoil
The rift between Faye and Sonko did not materialize overnight. Political observers had long anticipated this rupture. The alliance, once hailed as a unifying force, was fundamentally flawed from its inception. As one prominent commentator noted, “A Republic cannot function as a jazz duo where two soloists improvise without a shared score. Executive power, by its very nature, demands unity. African history—from Nkrumah to Sankara, Modibo Keïta to Laurent-Désiré Kabila—repeatedly demonstrates that cohabitations between two equally strong leaders ultimately end in one’s removal or mutual destruction.”
Tensions between the two men escalated in July 2025, when Sonko publicly criticized the president’s leadership, citing “authority issues” and accusing Faye of failing to adequately defend him against political opponents. The final blow came during a parliamentary session, where Sonko openly challenged several presidential decisions, including the management of political funds, declaring that the president had “made an error.”
Executive-legislative clash looms large
Will Ousmane Sonko now become the president’s main adversary? His widespread popularity positions him as a formidable threat to Faye’s leadership. The next political showdown is expected to unfold within the walls of the National Assembly, where Sonko could wield significant influence. “The battle is shifting to the Assembly, where a fierce confrontation between the president and the legislature could paralyze government action,” warns Moussa Diaw, a political science professor at the University Gaston-Berger. The stakes are high, as the executive branch prepares to introduce four critical constitutional reform bills, including revisions to the Constitution, the Constitutional Court, political parties, and the creation of an independent electoral commission—all of which require legislative approval.
The power struggle has now crystallized into a standoff between the Pastef party, led by Sonko, and the Coalition Diomaye Faye President. This clash of titans sets the stage for a bitter battle over the 2027 local elections and, more critically, the 2029 presidential race. For the Pastef’s supporters, particularly the youth who once rallied behind the Faye-Sonko ticket, the unfolding events have left them disillusioned and uncertain about where to place their allegiance.
Sonko’s potential advantage in the power struggle
Analysts suggest that Sonko may hold the upper hand in this confrontation. His political movement, Pastef, boasts an exceptional grassroots network, a highly mobilized youth base, and a compelling narrative forged during years of opposition to the previous regime under Macky Sall. Even when barred from the presidential ballot, Sonko remained the symbol of change for many Senegalese. While President Faye retains institutional legitimacy, Sonko’s enduring popular support could prove decisive in any future political or electoral battle. “Sonko’s strength lies in his ability to mobilize and inspire a generation,” notes political analyst Adrien Poussou. “In a political or electoral showdown, that could tip the scales in his favor.”