File picture: Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko of the ruling social gathering PASTEF (African Patriots of Senegal for Labor, Ethics and Fraternity) speaks at a political rally in Dakar, Senegal, on November 8, 2025. REUTERS/ANNITE
Senegal’s President Bashir Diomai Fay on Friday dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the federal government. The transfer dangers deepening uncertainty in a rustic already dealing with a debt disaster and prolonged talks with the Worldwide Financial Fund.
Presidential Secretary-Normal Umaru Samba Ba mentioned in a press release learn on state media that each one ministers had been eliminated and the outgoing authorities was left accountable for day-to-day operations.
The choice follows months of heightened tensions between the 2 nations, which have gone from allies to rivals. Mr Sonko, a charismatic determine with a robust following amongst younger folks, had supported Ms Fay within the 2024 election after being barred from working as a result of a defamation conviction.
In a publish on social media after the announcement, Sonko mentioned of his dwelling: “Tonight I’ll sleep peacefully within the Khur Gorgi space.”
The cut up comes as Senegal faces growing financial stress. The Worldwide Financial Fund has frozen a $1.8 billion mortgage program for Senegal following revelations of debt misstatements, pushing the nation’s debt stage to 132% of financial output on the finish of 2024.
Mr. Fay’s transfer raises the chance {that a} new settlement with the IMF, thought-about key to financial restoration, shall be additional delayed.
Earlier on Friday, forward of Sonko’s dismissal, Finance Minister Sheikh Dibba instructed parliament that Senegal plans to renew talks with the IMF within the week of June 8 and hopes to achieve settlement on key factors by June 30.
Dibba additionally warned that the nation’s gasoline subsidy invoice may exceed its 2026 finances allocation by as much as 1.15 trillion CFA francs ($2 billion) if oil costs rise to $115 a barrel, including that Sonko had rejected requires greater gasoline costs.
Mr. Sonko has opposed an estimated $13 billion debt restructuring proposed by the IMF, however Mr. Fay has not spoken a lot on the problem.
Hypothesis about Sonko’s political future
Sonko was a well-liked opposition chief underneath former chief Macky Sall, however the resolution to postpone elections to 2024 has sparked unrest.
Mr Fay and Mr Sonko are each former tax officers who had been jailed forward of the 2024 elections. They had been launched ten days earlier than the rescheduled contest, which Fay gained with 54% of the votes.
Fay then appointed Sonko as prime minister.
Now that Sonko has left his publish, it’s unclear what his subsequent step shall be.
In March, he mentioned he was ready to take away Pastev from authorities and return to the opposition if Fay left the social gathering’s agenda, fueling hypothesis that the ability battle between the 2 males was irresolvable.
Pastev’s parliamentary majority may complicate passing reforms wanted to manipulate and safe IMF help.
Final month, lawmakers overwhelmingly authorized adjustments to electoral legal guidelines that would pave the best way for Sonko to run for president in 2029.
Among the many dissidents, the Pan-Africanist prime minister’s signature initiative was an audit of useful resource transactions, together with these governing Senegal’s rising oil and gasoline sector.
In March, Mr Sonko declared the BP gasoline contract for the Higher Torchu Ahmaim mission unfair and canceled some 71 mining permits.
He had argued that renegotiating oil and gasoline contracts would decrease home vitality costs and assist rebuild Senegal’s battered funds.
