President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has appointed economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô as Senegal’s new Prime Minister, tasking the former central banker with steering the government through a period of political realignment and pressing economic challenges.
The announcement was made by presidential secretary-general Oumar Samba Ba in a decree read on state broadcaster RTS on Monday evening, May 25, 2026. Mr. Lô, a 60-year-old economist, immediately succeeds Ousmane Sonko, who was dismissed from the post on Friday along with the entire government.
The president congratulated Mr. Lô and wished him every success in serving the nation, according to a presidency statement.
Technocrat Takes the Helm
Mr. Lô is a career technocrat who spent nearly four decades at the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) from 1987 onward, rising through the ranks to become national director for Senegal and later secretary-general of the institution.
Since joining the government in April 2024, he has served as minister-secretary-general, and most recently as minister of state in charge of monitoring the “Senegal 2050” national transformation agenda.
Born on May 17, 1961, in Louga, Mr. Lô is a graduate of the Prytanée militaire de Saint-Louis and holds a master’s degree in economics from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar as well as an executive master’s in Islamic finance from Malaysia’s INCEIF University. In his first remarks as prime minister, he acknowledged the country’s “difficult financial situation” and stressed that Senegal remains “a safe and viable country”.
Political Context
The appointment comes days after President Faye dismissed Mr. Sonko, his former mentor and key political ally, following months of reported tensions over economic policy. Mr. Lô described his nomination as “not a change of direction, but a change of method,” citing continuity built on integrity and transparency.
Mr. Sonko is expected to return to parliament on Tuesday to stand for election as National Assembly president, a move opposition leaders have denounced.
Economic Challenges
Senegal is grappling with public debt estimated at 132% of GDP. The country has been in discussions with the IMF, and Mr. Lô’s deep financial expertise is widely seen as central to the negotiations ahead.