According to Abdoulaye Wade, former Senegalese president (2000-2012) about to reach 100 years old (!) on May 29, Ousmane Sonko should have watched his words about his ambitions to be the next Senegalese president. It is too late now.
Last Friday in the evening, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko was laid off by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The outcome seemed unavoidable after months of tensions between the two politicians. Faye and Sonko reached the peak of the State in April 2024, following Macky Sall’s term (2012-2024).
Ousmane Sonko will not leave alone. As claimed by Oumar Samba Ba, the General Secretary of the Presidency, the term is over for Sonko and thus all the secretaries of State and ministers of the government. The upcoming Prime Minister is not known yet, but no doubt that Faye will choose someone loyal who will not threaten his power. Which was clearly not the case with Sonko, especially over the last couple of weeks.
As a reminder, Sonko and Faye struggled together in the quest towards the Senegalese presidency. In 2024, Faye was appointed by Sonko to compete for the supreme function and replace him in the race due to the loss of his civil rights after a condemnation for defamation.
Over the last months, everyone could witness the dissensions between the Senegalese President and his Prime Minister. Faye criticized the “excessive personalization “ of Sonko inside the running party. He also said that “Sonko remains Prime Minister because he benefits from my trust. When it will not be the case any longer, there will be a new Prime Minister”.
It is still in three years, but the debate about the upcoming presidential elections of 2029 is already launched in a difficult economic context for Senegal. The debt of the country is reaching 132% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Guillaume Mahot