President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal has officially terminated the tenure of his Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, along with his entire government. The executive decree, issued Friday evening, follows a period of escalating friction between the head of state and his former political mentor.

Oumar Samba Ba, the presidential secretary-general, conveyed the decision on national television, confirming that the president “has ended the duties of Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state comprising the government.”

The statement further stipulated that the outgoing government members are tasked with overseeing current administrative affairs until a new cabinet is formed.

As a staunch critic of former President Macky Sall (2012-2024), Mr. Sonko was notably barred from the February 2024 presidential election. This disqualification stemmed from a defamation conviction that resulted in the loss of his civil rights, triggering widespread public demonstrations against President Sall and the contentious prospect of him seeking a third term.

Subsequently, Mr. Sonko endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his successor in the presidential race. However, since Mr. Faye’s electoral victory, a discernible strain has developed between the president and his charismatic former mentor, whose significant political sway was instrumental in propelling their alliance to power.

Ousmane Sonko’s compelling pan-Africanist discourse had ignited fervent enthusiasm among Senegal’s disillusioned youth in the run-up to the 2024 presidential contest, following a protracted political struggle with Macky Sall’s administration.

Reacting swiftly on his Facebook account, Mr. Sonko posted, “Alhamdoulillah. Tonight I will sleep with a light heart in Cité Keur Gorgui,” referencing the Dakar district where his residence is located.

Moments after the announcement of his removal from government, social media platforms were flooded with videos depicting Sonko’s supporters converging on his home, chanting his name in solidarity.

For many months, the underlying tensions between the head of state and the head of government had become increasingly evident, casting growing doubt on the sustainability of their political partnership.

Mr. Sonko’s political party holds a commanding majority in the Senegalese National Assembly, having secured an overwhelming victory in the legislative elections held in November 2024.