A significant political upheaval recently gripped Senegal on May 22, 2026, as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko from his position. This decisive action marked the dissolution of the powerful partnership that had been guiding the nation, plunging Senegal into a period of profound political instability and uncertainty, further complicated by an underlying national debt crisis.
With
Mehdi Ba
Journalist specializing in African affairs
Vincent Foucher
Political scientist, research fellow at Les Afriques dans le Monde (LAM) of Sciences Po Bordeaux
Merely days after his dismissal by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko reclaimed his seat as a Member of Parliament and was subsequently elected President of the National Assembly. This unexpected rupture between two figures who had formed an unlikely governing partnership at the pinnacle of the state since April 2024 has plunged Senegal into a profound political and institutional crisis. Despite belonging to the same Pastef party, divergences and a simmering rivalry had been evident for several months. Furthermore, shortly after their ascent to power, the administration uncovered a “hidden debt” amounting to nearly $11 billion, thrusting the nation into a severe financial predicament.
Publicité
Will the appointment of a new prime minister pave the way for political de-escalation, or does it risk exacerbating the already heightened tensions in West Africa’s political landscape?
Mehdi Ba, a journalist specializing in African affairs, and Vincent Foucher, a political scientist and research fellow at the Les Afriques dans le Monde (LAM) laboratory of Sciences Po Bordeaux, offer their insights into this volatile situation.
The week’s cartoon
Political commentary often finds expression through art, and a powerful cartoon from Willy Zekid (Republic of Congo), presented in collaboration with Cartooning for Peace, visually captures the essence of this political rift. Cartooning for Peace is an association that champions freedom and cultural respect through the insightful work of dedicated press cartoonists.
