Senegals President Faye Dissolves Government After Sacking Prime Minister Sonko

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government, according to a statement read out by a presidential aide on state media. The move comes after months of growing tensions between Faye and Sonko.

Sonko, who was appointed as prime minister by Faye following his election win in 2024, had backed Faye’s candidacy despite being barred from running himself due to a defamation conviction. However, the two allies became increasingly estranged over time.

The dismissal of Sonko and the dissolution of the government follow Senegal’s ongoing debt crisis and talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF froze a $1.8 billion lending program following the discovery of misreported debt hidden by the previous government, which has pushed the country’s end-2024 debt level to 132 percent of its economic output.

Finance Minister Cheikh Diba told parliament earlier on Friday that the government expects to resume talks with the IMF in the week of June 8 and hopes to reach an agreement on key points by June 30. The move by Faye raises concerns about further delays in reaching a new agreement with the IMF.

Sonko, who is a former tax official and was jailed ahead of the 2024 election, had stated that he would be willing to take his Pastef party out of the government and return to opposition if Faye departed from the party’s agenda. The dismissal of Sonko could complicate governance and the passage of reforms needed to secure IMF support.

Politicians have recently approved electoral code changes that could pave the way for Sonko to run for president in 2029.

Source: Al Jazeera