President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal has unveiled a new cabinet lineup that notably excludes the PASTEF party, led by former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The exclusion follows weeks of escalating disagreements between the two leaders over cabinet composition and governance priorities.

This political rupture comes just 12 days after Sonko was dismissed from his former post and subsequently elected as President of the National Assembly. The abrupt separation has plunged the nation into a period of heightened uncertainty, compounded by ongoing economic distress.

In a statement released on social media, PASTEF confirmed its decision not to participate in the new administration. The party cited “fundamental disagreements” with President Faye regarding the executive’s structure and the role of the ruling coalition within it.

Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô, a prominent figure outside PASTEF, was appointed to lead the 30-member cabinet. Several key PASTEF officials from the previous administration are conspicuously absent from the new lineup, underscoring the rift between the president and his former ally.

In their statement, PASTEF emphasized that despite shared objectives discussed during a lengthy meeting with President Faye, critical divergences persisted—particularly concerning the influence of the ruling majority within the executive framework. “Following internal consultations, revised proposals were submitted to the President, which unfortunately did not receive favorable consideration,” the party noted.

The statement concluded decisively: “As a result, PASTEF – Les Patriotes will not participate in the upcoming government and will not be represented by any minister.”

This political realignment unfolds against a backdrop of severe economic strain. In 2024, authorities uncovered a substantial underreporting of national debt by the previous administration, prompting the International Monetary Fund to suspend a $1.8 billion loan program. By the end of 2024, Senegal’s debt had surged to 132% of its GDP. The Finance Minister has indicated that negotiations with the IMF are set to resume next week, with the goal of finalizing a key agreement by June 30.