Senegal President Diomaye Faye Dismisses Prime Minister Sonko Amid Deepening Rift

Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – A major political rupture has shaken Senegal after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko following months of reported tensions and internal power struggles at the summit of the executive.

The dramatic decision came only hours after Sonko appeared before the National Assembly in what observers described as a highly symbolic and politically charged session.

During his address to lawmakers, Sonko openly acknowledged growing disagreements with President Diomaye Faye and publicly criticised the head of state’s leadership decisions.

In remarks that appeared to lay bare the widening fracture within the country’s top leadership, Sonko declared that “the President made a mistake” and defended his style of governance by insisting that he was “a Prime Minister who makes decisions without permission.”

The dismissal effectively brings to an end months of simmering tensions, influence battles and latent conflict within the ruling administration that came to power promising political transformation and institutional reform.

Although no official statement detailing the reasons for the dismissal had immediately been released, the move is expected to trigger significant political debate within the ruling coalition and across the Senegalese political landscape.

The fallout also raises fresh questions about the future relationship between Diomaye Faye and Sonko, whose political alliance was instrumental in securing victory in the 2024 presidential election and ushering in a new era of leadership in Senegal.

Political analysts say the public nature of Sonko’s criticism may have marked a decisive breaking point between the two men, whose partnership had increasingly been the subject of speculation amid reports of internal disagreements over governance and decision-making authority.

Further developments are expected as attention turns to who President Diomaye Faye may appoint as the country’s next prime minister and how the ruling coalition will manage the escalating political fallout.