Faye Names New Senegal Government Amid Rift With Ousmane Sonko

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has named a new government following the dismissal of his former prime minister and political ally, Ousmane Sonko, amid rising tensions within the ruling Pastef party. The new cabinet includes some Pastef members but excludes several senior figures, while Sonko has said his faction will not participate. The political rift comes as disagreements grow over economic policy and governance direction in Senegal.

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has announced a new government that includes several members and allies of a party led by his recently dismissed prime minister and long-time political associate, Ousmane Sonko, despite Sonko’s public declaration that his faction would not participate in the cabinet.
The announcement was made during a live television broadcast on Monday, less than two weeks after Faye removed Sonko from the post of prime minister and dissolved the cabinet. The reshuffle followed growing tensions between the two leaders, including disagreements over how to address Senegal’s worsening economic challenges.
The political rift marks a significant turning point in the relationship between Faye and Sonko, who were once close allies. Sonko, a highly influential political figure, was quickly elected speaker of parliament by his supporters in a vote that was boycotted by opposition parties, further intensifying the country’s political uncertainty.
Despite the fallout, Sonko remains the dominant figure within Pastef, the political party he founded in 2014. Both Sonko and President Faye are members of Pastef, which currently holds a strong majority of 130 seats in Senegal’s 165-seat National Assembly.
In his announcement, President Faye named economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo as the new prime minister. Faye stated that Lo’s experience and economic expertise would be essential in addressing Senegal’s mounting debt crisis and stabilising the country’s economy.
Shortly after his appointment, Prime Minister Lo unveiled a cabinet list of 30 ministers. The new government includes several members of Pastef, although it notably excludes a number of senior party figures who served in the previous administration.
Ousmane Sonko, however, publicly stated that his faction would not be joining the new government. In a social media statement, he said the decision followed a long discussion with President Faye, during which both agreements and disagreements were reached.
“Pastef will not take part and will not be represented by any ministers,” Sonko declared.
Faye had appointed Sonko as prime minister shortly after winning the presidency in April 2024, just days into his administration. Sonko, however, was unable to contest the presidential election himself due to a prior defamation conviction, despite being widely seen as a leading contender.
Sonko rose to national prominence following his political clashes with former President Macky Sall, who led Senegal from 2012 to 2024. His popularity grew significantly among young voters and opposition supporters who viewed him as a challenger to the established political order.
Tensions between Sonko and Faye reportedly began to surface in July, when Sonko accused the president of failing to provide sufficient support against critics and political opponents. In response, Faye later argued that the party needed to be “depersonalised” to prevent any single figure from dominating its direction.
The disagreement also extends to economic policy. While President Faye has shown openness to negotiations with the International Monetary Fund regarding a new loan programme, Sonko has advocated for a more independent and sovereign approach to economic management.
The latest cabinet formation highlights ongoing divisions within Senegal’s ruling political movement and raises questions about the future unity of Pastef as it navigates governance challenges and internal rivalries.