In Senegal, the political landscape is witnessing a growing divide between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, sparking sharp criticism from opposition figures. Abdou Mbow, a prominent member of the Takku Wallu parliamentary group and the Alliance for the Republic (APR), has publicly framed the situation as a political showdown paired with a deep institutional crisis. His assessment, rooted in months of conflicting signals from the executive branch, aims to expose the fractures within the ruling structure.
An executive duo under scrutiny
Elected together in March 2024 on a shared platform of systemic reform, President Faye and Prime Minister Sonko were once seen as the driving force behind the Pastef party’s dyarchy. However, the initial fluidity in their roles—dividing responsibilities between the presidency and the prime minister’s office—has given way to visible tensions. Key areas of contention now include the pace of reforms, the handling of judicial cases inherited from the previous administration, and the government’s political messaging.
Abdou Mbow argues that these discrepancies are no longer mere administrative noise but evidence of a latent power struggle. He highlights the unresolved question of political primacy between the Prime Minister—undisputed leader of Pastef and victor in the November 2024 legislative elections—and the President, who constitutionally holds the highest executive authority. This dynamic, he suggests, is fueling institutional instability.
Opposition seizes on the power vacuum
The APR, led by former President Macky Sall, is leveraging these frictions to regain political relevance. After suffering defeat in both the presidential and legislative elections, the party is positioning itself as a guardian of Senegal’s institutional integrity. The Takku Wallu group, the main opposition bloc in the National Assembly, has intensified its rhetoric, reframing internal government tensions as a threat to the functioning of the state.
By labeling the situation an institutional crisis, Abdou Mbow shifts the debate from partisan politics to national stability. This narrative questions the coherence of public decision-making, particularly as the government navigates critical reforms, including renegotiating mining and oil contracts, restoring fiscal health, and advancing the Senegal 2050 Agenda. The stakes are high, and any perception of disunity could undermine investor confidence.
A dyarchy tested by economic pressures
The fragility of the executive partnership is magnified by Senegal’s economic challenges. Recent audits have exposed a public debt far exceeding previous official estimates, prompting tense negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Managing this debt burden—alongside potential revisions to hydrocarbon tax frameworks—requires a unified voice from both the presidency and the prime minister’s office.
Yet, inconsistencies in recent policy decisions have highlighted divisions between the two leaders’ teams. Prime Minister Sonko’s assertive stance toward economic actors, media outlets, and judicial figures contrasts with President Faye’s more measured institutional approach. Observers note that what was once seen as a complementary division of labor is increasingly becoming a political liability for the opposition to exploit.
Despite these tensions, neither the presidency nor the prime minister’s office has acknowledged any open disagreement. The government continues to project a united front during cabinet meetings and high-profile events. Abdou Mbow’s remarks thus reflect a battle of narratives: the APR seeks to portray the executive as weakened, while Pastef defends the dyarchy as a necessary coordination between two complementary leaders.
The stakes extend beyond domestic politics. The ability of the executive duo to present a cohesive front will directly impact Senegal’s negotiations with international partners and financial institutions. As Dakar finalizes its new financing framework and structures revenue streams from the GTA and Sangomar oil fields, the perception of stability—or instability—at the top could shape the country’s economic trajectory for years to come.
