President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Sénégal officially terminated the tenure of his Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, and his entire cabinet late Friday evening via presidential decree. This significant move follows a period of escalating tensions between the two prominent political figures.

A declaration broadcast on national television by Oumar Samba Ba, the Secretary General of the Presidency, confirmed the decision. It explicitly stated that the President “has ended the functions of Mr. Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister, and consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who were members of the government.”

The statement further clarified that the outgoing government members are tasked with overseeing current affairs until a new administration is formed.

Mr. Sonko, a staunch adversary of former President Macky Sall (who served from 2012 to 2024), faced disqualification from the February 2024 presidential election. This came after a defamation conviction led to the revocation of his civil rights, sparking widespread public demonstrations against President Macky Sall and the contentious prospect of him seeking a third term.

In a pivotal moment for Sénégal politics, Mr. Sonko subsequently endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his replacement. Since Mr. Faye’s election, the relationship between the President and his former mentor, the charismatic Prime Minister, has been increasingly strained. Sonko’s significant influence was instrumental in propelling their political alliance to power.

Ousmane Sonko’s powerful pan-Africanist rhetoric resonated deeply with Sénégal’s disillusioned youth, galvanizing passionate support ahead of the 2024 presidential race, particularly following months of intense political confrontation with Macky Sall’s administration.

Reacting swiftly on his Facebook account, Mr. Sonko posted, “Alhamdoulillah. This evening I will sleep with a light heart in Cité Keur Gorgui,” referring to his Dakar residence.

Social media platforms were quickly flooded with videos depicting Sonko’s supporters converging on his home, chanting his name just moments after the announcement of his dismissal from the government.

For many months, the growing friction between the head of state and the head of government had become increasingly apparent, casting serious doubt on their ability to maintain a collaborative working relationship.

Despite this development in Sénégal politics, Mr. Sonko’s party holds a commanding majority in the Senegalese National Assembly, a result of their overwhelming victory in the November 2024 legislative elections.