Senegal Names New Government after Sacking PM

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced a new government on Monday, appointing economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo as prime minister. The cabinet includes several members of Pastef, the party led by sacked prime minister Ousmane Sonko.

The announcement came less than two weeks after Faye dismissed Sonko and dissolved the previous cabinet following disagreements over economic policy.

Sonko was elected speaker of parliament on May 27 in a vote boycotted by the opposition. He remains the leader of Pastef, which controls 130 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly.

On Monday, Sonko said his party would not join the new cabinet after a long conversation with Faye. “Some points of agreement were indeed confirmed, but also, above all, points of disagreement,” Sonko said in a statement on social media. “Pastef will not take part and will not be represented by any ministers.”

The new prime minister, Lo, read out a list of 30 ministers. Several senior Pastef figures who served in the previous government are not included.

Faye appointed Sonko as prime minister in April 2024, days after being elected president. Sonko was barred from running in that election due to a defamation conviction. Tensions between the two leaders became public in July 2024 when Sonko accused Faye of a “failure of leadership.” In May 2026, Faye said the party needed to be “depersonalised” from any single leader.

SOURCE: AFP