Politics

Senegal's President Fires PM Sonko, Dissolves Government

Is this the right move or does it risk the country's economic future?

Published MAY 23

Senegal's President Fires PM Sonko, Dissolves Government

Story

Above: Bassirou Diomaye Faye (C) arrives at the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi on May 11, 2026. Image credit: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government on Friday via a decree read on state television by presidential aide Oumar Samba Ba.
Daily Nation
allAfrica
Sonko had backed Faye's successful 2024 presidential bid after being barred from running due to a defamation conviction. Both men were released from prison just 10 days before the election, which Faye won with 54% of the vote.
BBC News
Al Jazeera
Tensions between the two leaders had been building for months, as Faye criticized what he described as Sonko's "excessive personalization" within the ruling Pastef party and Sonko accused Faye of a "failure of leadership" for not defending him against critics.
BBC News
Africanews
Senegal's public debt reached 132% of GDP by the end of 2024, following the discovery of misreported debt hidden by the previous government. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) subsequently froze its $1.8 billion lending program with the country.
Daily Nation
Al Jazeera
Before Sonko's dismissal, Finance Minister Cheikh Diba told parliament that Senegal expected to resume IMF talks during the week of June 8, aiming to reach an agreement on key points by June 30.
Daily Nation
Al Jazeera
Lawmakers approved electoral code changes last month that could allow Sonko to run for president in 2029. In March, Sonko said he would be willing to return Pastef to the opposition if Faye departed from the party's agenda.
Daily Nation
France 24

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Sonko had it coming — openly telling the president he "made a mistake " during a National Assembly session was a direct challenge to executive authority. The so-called bromance between Faye and Sonko was always a power struggle waiting to explode, as they clashed over party control, economic policy and political influence. Faye made the right call, dissolving the entire government rather than letting that tension paralyze Senegal's leadership.

Henix Obuchunju on X

The Barrister Street Network on X

Narrative B

Firing Sonko right in the middle of fragile IMF negotiations is a reckless gamble with Senegal's economic future. The country's debt already sits at 132% of economic output after misreported figures froze a $1.8 billion IMF lending program, and this political shake-up risks delaying any new agreement. Senegal needed stability, not a leadership implosion that leaves the path to economic recovery even murkier.