Senegal’s political landscape shifts as president faye dismisses prime minister sonko

The dynamic political partnership between Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, once a unique phenomenon in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, has dramatically unraveled. What began as a powerful alliance, with Sonko as mentor to Faye, ahead of Senegal’s 2024 presidential election, escalated into open conflict, culminating in a critical split on the night of May 22, 2026.

On the evening of Friday, May 22nd, just before 10 PM, the nation watched in surprise as a brief address from the Republic Palace in Dakar was broadcast. Oumar Samba Ba, Secretary-General of the Presidency, announced the immediate dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. Concurrently, all members of the existing government were relieved of their duties.

“By decree n°2026-1128 of May 22, 2026,” Oumar Samba Ba stated, “President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has terminated the functions of Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister, and consequently, those of the ministers and secretaries of state comprising the government. The outgoing government members are tasked with managing current affairs.”

Reacting to the news of his termination, Ousmane Sonko posted on social media, declaring, “Tonight, I will sleep with a light heart.”

Just hours prior, during a session at the National Assembly, Sonko had asserted to deputies, “I am not a Prime Minister who blindly obeys and assents to everything.”

Tensions between the two executive leaders, who assumed power in 2024, have been visibly mounting in recent months, with their political disagreements becoming increasingly public. Weeks earlier, during a press engagement, President Faye had notably indicated his prerogative to “terminate his Prime Minister’s functions should he lose confidence.” This evening, it appears that line has definitively been crossed.

The immediate question now revolves around the future trajectory of power in Senegal, especially considering that the next significant political milestones—local elections—are not scheduled until 2027, with the next presidential contest slated for 2029.