Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved Senegal’s cabinet following months of political friction at the heart of government.
The dramatic move marks a major rupture between the two longtime allies whose partnership swept them to power after a period of intense political unrest in Senegal.
Before the election, Sonko — then the country’s leading opposition figure — was imprisoned and barred from contesting the presidency after being accused of “corrupting the youth,” charges his supporters described as politically motivated.
Unable to run, Sonko threw his full support behind Faye, who emerged as the opposition’s candidate and later secured victory at the polls.
However, relations between the president and his once-powerful political ally reportedly deteriorated in recent months, culminating in Sonko’s dismissal and the dissolution of the entire cabinet in a sweeping political reset.
The development is expected to reshape Senegal’s political landscape and raise fresh questions about the future of the ruling alliance.