Senegal’s ruling duo splits: Sonko retakes Pastef, Diomaye governs solo

Less than two years after taking office, the alliance between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko has fractured. Following months of behind-the-scenes tensions, the Senegalese leader dismissed his prime minister. Over the past weekend, Sonko was reaffirmed as the head of the Pastef party during its first-ever congress since the movement was established. This political rupture prompts key questions: Who now steers the electorate that championed change? What are the consequences for Senegal’s stability and the road to the 2029 elections? These matters are dissected by Daouda Ngom, a former higher education minister, and Mehdi Ba, a Dakar-based journalist covering West African affairs.