Senegal’s new government: sonko allies join cabinet despite pastef’s official withdrawal
PASTEF-Les Patriotes, the political party, has announced its non-participation in the newly formed government under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, citing fundamental disagreements over the executive’s structure. Despite this official stance, a notable number of ministers with close ties to Ousmane Sonko have been appointed, prompting questions about the new cabinet’s true political alignment.
In a public statement released on June 1, 2026, the PASTEF-Les Patriotes party, led by Ousmane Sonko, confirmed its decision not to join the new government established by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The party articulated that it had identified significant points of contention with the Head of State regarding the executive’s organization, asserting that none of its official members would hold positions within the administration.
Notwithstanding this declared position, the government, now under the leadership of Prime Minister Ahmadou Al-Aminou Lo, includes several prominent figures whose public profiles are frequently linked within Senegalese political discourse either to the broader PASTEF movement or to circles closely associated with its influential leader, Ousmane Sonko.
ministers with pastef affiliations in the new cabinet
Among the recently appointed ministers, several are widely recognized in the public sphere for their alignment with the political agenda championed by Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye during the 2024 presidential election campaign. These include Yankhoba Diémé, who now heads the Ministry of Armed Forces; Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, appointed Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation; Ibrahim Sy, taking on the role of Minister of Health and Public Hygiene; Marie Angélique Mame Selbe Diouf, who leads the Ministry of Family and Solidarities; and Déthié Fall, now Minister of Infrastructure.
These individuals are generally perceived as integral to the presidential movement or as key figures from political alliances that provided crucial support, ultimately contributing to the electoral success of Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Conversely, other members of the government, such as Cheikh Diba, Cheikh Niang, and Boubacar Camara, are more commonly viewed as technocrats or independent political personalities, given that their professional backgrounds are not directly tied to a specific partisan affiliation with PASTEF.