Senegal President Faye Dismisses Prime Minister Sonko and Dissolves Cabinet

On 22‑23 May 2026 Senegal’s president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, issued a televised decree terminating the functions of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dismissing all ministers and state secretaries. The decree ends the political partnership that brought the reformist Pastef movement to power in 2024 and leaves the outgoing government to handle only routine affairs until a new cabinet is appointed.

The split follows months of public rifts over policy direction, the management of Senegal’s severe debt crisis – public debt has risen to about 132 % of GDP, prompting the IMF to suspend a $1.8 billion program – and personal ambitions ahead of the 2029 presidential race. Sonko, barred from the 2024 presidential ballot after a defamation conviction, had been a key ally and the movement’s public face. He responded on social media, saying he would “sleep peacefully in the Keur Gorgui neighborhood,” while supporters staged small protests in Dakar and at the university.

Analysts warn the rupture could destabilise the ruling coalition, complicate negotiations with international lenders and affect West‑African regional stability, especially as Senegal prepares to host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The president is expected to name a new prime minister in the coming days, and the parliament’s speaker has also resigned, hinting at further political realignment.