Senegal’s political rift: the end of the honeymoon between Sonko and Faye

After being removed from his prime ministerial post by President Faye, Ousmane Sonko has now been elected to lead the National Assembly. This new role positions him as the chief rival to the head of state.

A powerful political bond once united them. The 2024 Senegalese presidential campaign slogan in Wolof, “Diomaye Moy Sonko” (“Diomaye is Sonko”), perfectly encapsulated their unwavering alliance. However, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko are now embroiled in a significant rivalry. Their political honeymoon, which effectively unseated former President Macky Sall (who served from 2012 to 2024), has definitively concluded. The pressures of political competition, the complexities of governance, and Senegal’s challenging economic climate have ultimately dissolved their joint leadership.

Sonko, who was dismissed from his prime ministerial position by the President on May 22, promptly reclaimed his seat as a deputy in the National Assembly. Following this, the influential politician secured the speakership, a move that designates him as the second most senior figure in the Senegalese state and the constitutional successor to President Faye. Crucially, this elevation also establishes him as the President’s foremost political adversary.