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

What began as a groundbreaking political alliance, hailed as a first in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, ultimately proved unsustainable. In Senegal, the formidable partnership between Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye—the former a mentor to the latter and a staunch critic of former President Macky Sall—which propelled them into the 2024 presidential election, dramatically unraveled into a public confrontation on the night of May 22, 2026.

Indeed, on Friday, May 22, just before 10 PM, a wave of astonishment swept across Senegal as a brief official announcement was broadcast by the Radiotélévision Sénégalaise (RTS) from the Presidential Palace in Dakar. Oumar Samba Ba, the Secretary-General of the Presidency, declared the immediate termination of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s appointment. Concurrently, all members of the sitting government were relieved of their duties.

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

Upon learning of his dismissal, Ousmane Sonko promptly reacted on the social media platform Facebook, posting: “Tonight, I will sleep with a light heart.”

This swift action followed Sonko’s assertive declaration just hours earlier before the National Assembly, where he responded to parliamentary inquiries by stating: “I am not a Prime Minister who obeys blindly and acquiesces to everything.”

It is important to recall that palpable tensions had been escalating over recent months between the two executive leaders, who assumed power in 2024. Their political disagreements had become increasingly apparent. For instance, weeks prior, during a press briefing with the nation’s media, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had indicated that he reserved the right to “terminate the functions of his Prime Minister whenever he no longer had confidence in him.” That critical threshold, it seems, was crossed on this pivotal evening, marking a significant moment in **African politics** and **governance Africa**.

The immediate question now revolves around the future trajectory of power in Senegal, particularly given that the next political milestones are not anticipated until 2027 for local elections and 2029 for the presidential election.