Friday, May 22, marked a significant shift in Senegal’s political landscape as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye unexpectedly dismissed his long-time ally, Ousmane Sonko, and his entire government. By Sunday, the former Prime Minister had reclaimed his seat as a Member of Parliament. Simultaneously, Malick Ndiaye, the President of the National Assembly, announced his resignation. The election for the new Assembly President is scheduled for Tuesday, with Ousmane Sonko potentially emerging as the frontrunner. This series of events strongly indicates an impending power struggle between the executive and legislative branches in West Africa.
Observers suggest this political divorce was inevitable. The dynamic between Faye and Sonko contained a fundamental and irreconcilable contradiction. While both men possess talent and their political visions were not radically divergent, a republic, particularly in its executive function, demands a singular authority. Historical precedents across Africa, from Nkrumah to Sankara, Modibo Keïta to Laurent-Désiré Kabila, demonstrate that cohabitation at the highest levels between two equally strong wills often culminates in the ousting of one or the downfall of both.
deepening political rifts
Indeed, this current upheaval is the culmination of months of escalating tensions between the two leaders, who ascended to power in April 2024 on a wave of immense popular hope. The seeds of this political separation were sown as early as last July when the first cracks appeared in their partnership. At that time, Ousmane Sonko publicly raised concerns about a “problem of authority,” accusing the President of failing to adequately defend him against political attacks. The final rupture occurred merely hours after a session of current affairs questions in the National Assembly, where the former head of government openly challenged several presidential decisions, notably concerning the management of political funds, asserting that the President had “made a mistake.”
executive vs. legislative: a looming standoff?
Now, the critical question arises: has the former Prime Minister transitioned into the President’s principal opponent? Given his enduring popularity, Ousmane Sonko poses a substantial challenge to Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The next phase of this contest between the two figures will likely unfold within the parliamentary chamber. As Moussa Diaw, a professor of political science at Gaston-Berger University in Saint-Louis, notes, “The political battle risks shifting to the National Assembly, evolving into a standoff between the head of state and the legislature.” He warns that a significant risk of governmental paralysis looms large, especially as the executive aims to introduce a series of institutional reforms. Forthcoming legislative proposals include revisions to the Constitution, changes to the Constitutional Court, new regulations for political parties, and the establishment of an independent national electoral commission. Such a legislative deadlock would severely constrain the President’s room for maneuver.
The situation clearly pits Pastef, a party largely controlled by Ousmane Sonko, against the Diomaye Faye presidential coalition. This signifies an intense, no-holds-barred struggle between the majority powers, with the communal elections of 2027 and, more critically, the presidential election of 2029 firmly in sight. Among the Pastef supporters, particularly the young Senegalese who had invested their hopes in the Faye-Sonko duo, there is palpable doubt, anger, and disillusionment, leaving them uncertain of whom to trust.
could ousmane sonko emerge stronger?
This open test of strength could very well favor Ousmane Sonko, according to Adrien Poussou, a former Central African Communication Minister and geopolitical analyst. He asserts that the current political reality in Senegal is unequivocal: Pastef dominates the national scene due to its exceptional grassroots organization, a highly mobilized youth base, and a powerful narrative forged during years of confrontation with the regime of Macky Sall. Within this dynamic, Sonko remains the pivotal figure. Even when legally barred from the ballot during the presidential election, the aspiration for change coalesced around him. While President Faye possesses institutional legitimacy, his former Prime Minister retains formidable popular and militant legitimacy. In any future political or electoral confrontation, this factor could prove decisive for Senegal’s political future.
