Senegal’s President Faye Fires Prime Minister Sonko, Dissolves Government in Shock Power Play

DAKAR — In a dramatic televised address on state TV late Wednesday, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced the dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the dissolution of the government, upending the political alliance that brought Faye to power just months ago.

The move, which caught most citizens and analysts off guard, lays bare a widening rift between the two former allies. President Faye’s rise to the presidency was widely credited to Sonko’s popular support—Sonko had been barred from running himself due to a defamation conviction, clearing a path for Faye. But the partnership has since frayed, with public signs of discord between the two leaders intensifying over recent months.

“This is a stunning betrayal in the eyes of Sonko’s hardline base,” said one political analyst in Dakar, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Faye owes his position to Sonko’s endorsement. To fire him now signals a fundamental realignment.”

Observers note that the governing alliance had grown increasingly uncertain for months, marked by policy disagreements and competing visions for Senegal’s future. The dismissal raises urgent questions about the stability of the administration and the direction of the country.

For now, President Faye has not named a replacement prime minister or outlined a timeline for forming a new government. Political uncertainty looms as Senegal watches to see whether Sonko’s loyalists will remain within the ruling coalition—or break away to challenge the president they once propelled to power.