Senegal President Faye Fires Prime Minister Amid IMF and Political Conflict

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on 22 May 2026, ending the coalition that helped him win the 2024 election. The move broke with the party that supported him and left the president governing without a parliamentary majority, raising questions about democratic legitimacy and political stability as the country faces flooding, unemployment, rising living costs, and strained public services.

At the same time, President Faye is pursuing his Vision 2050 development strategy, which emphasizes economic sovereignty and social justice. He is in talks with the International Monetary Fund to secure a new financing programme, including proposals for regional debt‑exchange mechanisms discussed at the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi. The IMF has stressed transparency and adherence to its macro‑economic conditions, creating a tension between the president’s sovereign growth agenda and the fund’s orthodox policy framework.