Behind the terse official statement lies a seismic political rupture at the heart of Senegal’s highest echelons of power. Barely two years after their historic 2024 victory, the duo that embodied a generation’s aspirations is now publicly fractured—along with the most compelling political narrative Senegal has witnessed since the 2000 democratic transition.

The foundation of Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s rise to power rested on an unshakable pledge of loyalty. ‘Diomaye moy Sonko’ (Sonko is Diomaye, and Diomaye is Sonko, in Wolof), chanted by Senegalese youth in the streets of Dakar, Ziguinchor, and Thiès, became the rallying cry of a movement.

From campaign slogan to political trap

Yet the fracture did not materialize overnight—it had been simmering since the duo assumed office in April 2024. At the time, Diomaye Faye was not the original choice of the Pastef party. After Sonko was barred from running due to a defamation conviction, he handpicked his trusted lieutenant to carry the party’s banner.

The campaign slogan ‘Diomaye moy Sonko’ served as a strategic bridge, signaling to voters that electing Faye was equivalent to electing Sonko. The gamble paid off: buoyed by Sonko’s popularity, Faye secured a commanding 54% victory in the first round of voting.

Once in office, however, the balance of power became unsustainable. Sonko remained the undisputed political force behind the regime, frequently taking bold public stances and reminding officials that the ‘vision’ belonged first and foremost to the Pastef movement.

Meanwhile, Diomaye Faye steadily asserted himself as a president in his own right, particularly in matters of national security and diplomacy. This growing presidential assertiveness was perceived by some Pastef stalwarts as a deviation from the movement’s founding ideals.

A rupture long in the making

Officially, no justification was provided for the dismissal. In Dakar, however, few were surprised. For months, signs of discord had mounted between the two leaders.

The president reproached his prime minister for an ‘excessive personalization of power’ and an overwhelming media presence that threatened to overshadow the executive. In early May, during a televised interview that felt like a warning, Diomaye Faye publicly reined in his head of government: ‘As long as he remains Prime Minister, it is because he enjoys my confidence. When that is no longer the case, there will be a new Prime Minister.’

Sonko, for his part, showed no signs of backing down. As the uncontested leader of the Pastef, which secured a parliamentary majority in the November 2024 legislative elections, he continued to rally the grassroots as the true custodian of the movement’s political project born in opposition to former president Macky Sall.

Behind the scenes, two factions had crystallized: the ‘legalists’ around the president, eager to establish an autonomous presidency, and the ‘Sonko loyalists’, who viewed Diomaye Faye as a temporary steward of the popular mandate embodied by Sonko.

By late 2025, the president had begun consolidating his own political machinery under the ‘Diomaye Président’ movement, systematically reducing the influence of Sonko’s inner circle within state circles. In response, Sonko’s camp escalated public warnings about what it saw as a betrayal of the Pastef’s original promises.

The electoral reform adopted in late April—potentially paving the way for Sonko’s 2029 candidacy—acted as a catalyst. In Dakar, many interpreted it as the unofficial launch of a presidential campaign ahead of schedule.

IMF, debt, and fuel: the economic fractures fueling the split

The deepest disagreement, however, centered on economic management. Discussions with the International Monetary Fund had crystallized tensions between the two leaders.

Upon taking office, the new administration uncovered the staggering scale of Senegal’s debt and accused the previous administration of concealing portions of the public debt. The IMF subsequently suspended a $1.8 billion program, forcing the executive into delicate negotiations with international lenders.

Within presidential circles, some criticized Sonko for adopting a stance deemed too uncompromising toward IMF demands, particularly regarding fiscal reforms and energy subsidy reductions. Conversely, Sonko’s allies accused the president’s camp of gradually abandoning the Pastef’s sovereignist and social promises.

The Finance Minister, Cheikh Diba, was said to have warned the executive about the mounting cost of energy subsidies amid soaring debt levels. Observers in Dakar noted that disagreements over potential fuel price hikes had effectively paralyzed the government apparatus.

Senegal’s debt now stands at 132% of GDP, according to the IMF, making it one of the most indebted countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The final straw

Just hours before his dismissal, Sonko delivered a combative speech in the National Assembly. When questioned about a recent law toughening penalties for homosexuality, he railed against ‘Western tyranny,’ accusing it of attempting to ‘impose’ its values on Senegal.

The Prime Minister condemned what he described as a ‘dictate’ from the West, rejecting any ‘moratorium’ on the controversial law’s enforcement. While the speech drew thunderous applause from Pastef lawmakers, it reignited concerns among Senegal’s Western partners—especially as Dakar sought to restore financial credibility with the IMF. In this volatile context, Diomaye Faye appears to have opted for a decisive show of authority.

A charged night in Dakar

Within minutes of the presidential decree being announced, social media erupted. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside Ousmane Sonko’s residence in Keur Gorgui, chanting his name and denouncing what they called a ‘betrayal.’

Shortly after midnight, the former Prime Minister arrived at his home, where crowds had already gathered. Some chanted his name; others condemned the dismissal as a ‘treason.’ In a matter of hours, Senegalese social media had become an echo chamber for a rupture many had long anticipated.

‘No Prime Minister has ever defied his president as openly as Sonko. His dismissal was inevitable,’ wrote Arthur Banga, an Ivorian political scientist, on social platforms.

Political figures quickly weighed in. Former Dakar Mayor Barthélémy Dias urged calm while decrying a ‘grave institutional crisis.’ Franco-Spanish lawyer Juan Branco, a long-time ally of Sonko from the opposition era, went further, calling it ‘the greatest betrayal in Senegalese history.’

The next day’s headlines reflected the magnitude of the shock. ‘The fracture,’ declared one Dakar daily. ‘Diomaye seizes power,’ proclaimed another. Elsewhere, front pages announced ‘Farewell to the duo’ or ‘Power struggle at the summit.’

Diplomats in Dakar now watch the unfolding situation with unease. The rupture transcends a mere clash of egos—it signals the end of a fragile equilibrium that made the 2024 democratic transition possible after years of turmoil under Macky Sall, marked by deadly protests, mass arrests, and deep institutional distrust.

The impossible duo

At its core, the crisis exposes an inherent contradiction: Could Senegal’s government sustain two centers of power indefinitely? Diomaye Faye held constitutional legitimacy as head of state, while Ousmane Sonko retained formidable militant legitimacy, particularly among urban youth and Pastef cadres. For two years, the regime attempted to reconcile these dual forces. Yet in Senegal, where the presidency has historically concentrated political authority, such duality was never sustainable.

By May 2026, Diomaye Faye had publicly cautioned that the government risked succumbing to ‘personal ambitions.’ Weeks later, he reiterated that he alone held the constitutional authority to appoint—and dismiss—his Prime Minister. On Friday evening, he acted.

The split now ushers in a high-stakes chapter. If Sonko retains control over the Pastef and the parliamentary majority, Diomaye Faye commands the state apparatus and the presidency. Between them, the battle for 2029 has likely begun. Yet for many Senegalese, a graver concern looms: mass youth unemployment, soaring living costs, record debt, and the unfulfilled promises of change. Beneath the war of ambitions, many fear the hope born of the 2024 transition could dissolve into the fractures of power.

The president must now appoint a new Prime Minister, subject to parliamentary approval within three months.