The PASTEF-Les Patriotes party has declared its non-participation in the newly formed government under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, citing fundamental disagreements regarding the executive’s structure. Despite this official stance, several ministers widely regarded as close to Ousmane Sonko have been appointed, sparking questions about the true political alignment of the new cabinet.
In a public communiqué issued on June 1, 2026, the PASTEF-Les Patriotes party, led by political figure Ousmane Sonko, announced its decision to refrain from joining the new government established by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The party articulated that it had identified significant divergences with the head of state concerning the composition and operational framework of the executive branch, affirming that no official party members would hold positions within it.
Notwithstanding this declared position, the government, now under the leadership of Prime Minister Ahmadou Al-Aminou Lo, includes numerous individuals whose backgrounds are frequently associated, within Senegalese political discourse, with either the broader PASTEF movement or circles closely linked to its prominent leader.
key figures with pastef ties assume ministerial roles
Among the recently appointed ministers, several are publicly recognized for their proximity to the political agenda championed by Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye during the pivotal 2024 presidential election. These include notable figures such as Yankhoba Diémé, who has taken on the crucial role of Minister of Armed Forces; Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, now Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation; Ibrahim Sy, appointed Minister of Health and Public Hygiene; Marie Angélique Mame Selbe Diouf, serving as Minister of Family and Solidarities; and Déthié Fall, who assumes the portfolio of Minister of Infrastructures.
These individuals are generally perceived as either direct members of the presidential movement or key allies from political coalitions that actively supported the dynamic electoral campaign that ultimately led to Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s ascension to the presidency.
Conversely, other members of the government are more commonly viewed as technocrats or independent political personalities. This group includes Cheikh Diba, Cheikh Niang, and Boubacar Camara, whose professional trajectories are not directly affiliated with a partisan membership within PASTEF, indicating a blend of political affiliations and expertise within the new administration.
