Senegal’s Faye sacks Sonko, dissolves government as IMF talks hang in balance

DAKAR — Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government, ending months of friction between the two former allies and raising fresh uncertainty over the country’s fiscal-reform path.

The announcement was read on state media by Oumar Samba Ba, secretary-general of the presidency. All ministers were dismissed, with the outgoing administration assigned to handle day-to-day affairs while a new government is formed. (Reuters)

The rupture comes at a sensitive moment for Senegal’s economy. The International Monetary Fund froze a $1.8 billion lending programme after previously misreported debt figures were uncovered, pushing end-2024 public debt to about 132% of GDP. Finance Minister Cheikh Diba had said talks with the IMF could resume in the week of June 8, but Faye’s decision introduces new political uncertainty around any fiscal adjustment package. (Reuters)

Faye and Sonko rose to power together in 2024 under the Pastef banner after Sonko, then a leading opposition figure, was barred from running because of a defamation conviction. Sonko backed Faye’s presidential bid and later became prime minister, but the two men clashed over policy direction, including the handling of IMF-backed debt discussions. (AP News)

The political stakes are high because Pastef holds a majority in the National Assembly. Sonko has retained strong support among young voters and had previously warned that his party could withdraw from government if Faye departed from its agenda. (Reuters)

Senegal has been under pressure to restore credibility with creditors after the debt-reporting crisis. The government has also pursued audits of natural-resource contracts and reviews of mining and energy arrangements as part of a wider pledge to rebuild public finances and renegotiate terms seen as unfavourable. (Reuters)

The dismissal now shifts attention to Faye’s choice of a new prime minister, the composition of the next cabinet, and whether Senegal can quickly restart IMF negotiations without a prolonged political standoff.