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Senegal's President Fires PM Sonko, Dissolves Government

The decree deepens a power struggle over economic policy and IMF talks as Sonko’s dismissal raises uncertainty for reform efforts.

  • On Friday, Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye terminated Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, dissolving the government and dismissing all ministers. Secretary general Oumar Samba Ba announced the decision on state media.
  • The dismissal follows months of mounting friction between the former allies, who rode to power together after defeating the previous ruling party. Sonko backed Faye in the 2024 election after being barred from running himself.
  • Sonko pursued an aggressive anti-establishment agenda, revoking 71 mining licenses and auditing resource deals. He opposed restructuring the $13 billion debt, clashing with the International Monetary Fund, which froze its $1.8 billion lending program.
  • Following the announcement, Sonko wrote on social media, "Tonight I will sleep with a light heart in the Keur Gorgui neighbourhood," a reference to his private residence. The outgoing government remains responsible for current affairs.
  • Senegal now faces significant uncertainty as debt levels reach 132% of economic output amid a broader debt crisis. The political split risks reigniting unrest in the West African nation as it navigates mounting economic pressures.
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For months, a power struggle had been brewing between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. With Sonko’s resignation, the rift is a fact, and amidst a financial crisis, a political crisis now also looms for Senegal.

·Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
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Xinhua broke the news in China on Friday, May 22, 2026.
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