President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal officially appointed a new cabinet on Monday. This development comes even after Ousmane Sonko, the leader of the Pastef party and President of the National Assembly, explicitly stated that his political formation would not participate in the new administration.
The announcement of this new governmental structure follows approximately ten days after President Faye, himself a member of Pastef, removed Sonko from his position as Prime Minister. Sonko subsequently assumed the role of President of the National Assembly.
The political landscape in Senegal has been marked by a significant rift between these two prominent figures, creating a period of political uncertainty for a nation already grappling with a severe financial crisis.
Ousmane Sonko has since been succeeded as Prime Minister by Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô, who on Monday presented a list of 30 ministers. Notably, this list excludes several key members of the ruling Pastef party who had served in the previous government.
Just moments before the cabinet list was made public, Sonko had issued a statement via his social media channels, confirming Pastef’s decision not to join the new government.
“Disagreement”
“This morning, a lengthy discussion took place between the President of the Republic and myself, as party President. While areas of agreement were certainly reaffirmed, significant points of divergence also emerged, particularly concerning the position and function of the majority within the executive framework,” the statement detailed.
It further added, “Following a debriefing meeting with the Party’s leadership, new proposals were submitted to the President of the Republic, which did not receive a favorable response.” Consequently, the statement concluded, “PASTEF – Les Patriotes will not be part of the upcoming government and will not have any ministerial representation.”
Despite this firm declaration, the new government includes several less publicly known allies and members of Sonko’s party. Among them are Moussa Bala Fofana, who will serve as Minister of Urbanism, and Yankhoba Diémé, appointed to the portfolio of Armed Forces.
President Faye also opted to retain several ministers from the previous administration. These reappointed officials include Cheikh Diba as Minister of Finance, Moustapha Mamba Guirassy for Education, and Cheikh Tidiane Dièye for Sanitation.
The formation of the new government followed “customary consultations with all involved parties,” including Pastef party leader Ousmane Sonko, as stated by the new Prime Minister, Amadou Al Aminou Lô. During the live broadcast of the list on the national public channel, RTS, Lô emphasized that “the President of the Republic wishes to reiterate that, under all circumstances, a statesman must ensure that the nation and the Republic always take precedence over any partisan considerations.”
New turning point
This episode represents a significant turning point following the political separation between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko. The two men, long-time political companions, achieved victory in the March 2024 presidential election under the popular slogan “Sonko mooy Diomaye” (Sonko is Diomaye in Wolof).
However, over several months, clear divergences emerged between them, ultimately leading to their inevitable split after Sonko’s dismissal in late May. Sonko, the undisputed leader of their party, which holds a substantial majority in the Assembly, has since been comfortably elected President of the Parliament.
Ousmane Sonko, who was unable to contest the presidential election due to a defamation conviction, had designated his close associate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as his replacement in the race. Yet, differences began to surface between them post-election.
Tensions first became apparent in July 2025 when the then-Prime Minister Sonko sharply criticized President Faye, decrying a “problem of authority” within the nation. In early May, President Faye, in turn, criticized his former Prime Minister’s “excessive personalization” of power within the ruling party.