By: Isaac Kwabena Boadu Date:23rd May, 2026
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dissolved his government on Friday 23rd May 2026, and dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, a decision that signals a formal split between two leaders who jointly led the opposition to power in 2024.
The announcement was made via a statement broadcast on state media. All ministers were relieved of their duties, with the outgoing cabinet instructed to manage day-to-day administrative functions until a new government is appointed, according to Oumar Samba Ba, secretary-general of the presidency.
The relationship between President Faye and Former Prime Minister Sonko dates to the 2024 presidential election. Mr. Sonko, leader of the PASTEF party, was barred from running due to a defamation conviction. He subsequently endorsed President Faye, who was then a lesser-known party official, and mobilized significant youth support behind the campaign.
President Faye won the March 2024 election and appointed PM. Sonko as prime minister in April 2024, formalizing a power-sharing arrangement in which Sonko was widely seen as the political strategist and President Faye as head of state. The partnership defined the new administration’s early months.
Over the following year, public and policy disagreements between the presidency and the prime minister’s office became more pronounced. The split culminated in Friday’s dissolution of the government.
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