Senegal’s president Faye dismisses Prime Minister Sonko

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government, according to an announcement on state television.

No official reason was provided for the dismissal.

“Alhamdoulillah (All praise is due to God). Tonight, I will sleep with a light heart in the city of Keur Gorgui,” Sonko wrote on his official platforms after the announcement.

The decision comes after months of tensions between Faye and Sonko, once close political allies within the ruling PASTEF party, which came to power in 2024. The relationship deteriorated amid disputes about party control, governance and economic policy, according to local media reports.

Faye exercised his constitutional authority to remove Sonko. The dismissal applies to all ministers, according to a statement read by Oumar Samba Ba, secretary general of Faye’s office.

“The members of the outgoing government are responsible for handling current affairs,” Ba said. The president will appoint a new prime minister and government within the coming days.

Sonko was appointed prime minister on April 2, 2024, hours after Faye’s inauguration as president.

SOURCE: AA