Senegal’s President Faye sacks PM Sonko and dissolves government | News
The renewed instability could complicate bailout negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. Published On 23 May 202623 May 2026 Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government, a move that risks deepening uncertainty in a country grappling with a debt crisis and ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A statement read out by a presidential aide on state media on Friday informed the nation that all ministers were dismissed, with the outgoing government tasked with handling day-to-day affairs. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The decision follows months of growing tensions between Faye and Sonko. Sonko, a charismatic figure with a strong youth following, had backed Faye in the 2024 election after being barred from running himself due to a defamation conviction, but the two allies became increasingly estranged. The split comes as Senegal faces mounting economic pressure. The IMF froze a $1.8bn lending programme following the discovery of misreported debt hidden by the previous government, pushing the country’s end-2024 debt level to 132 …



