Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has said he is willing to take his party, Pastef, out of government and return to opposition if President Bassirou Diomaye Faye breaks from its vision, amid growing rumours of a power struggle between the two leaders.
Tensions in the West African country have risen following university unrest and protracted negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as Senegal seeks to raise funds and secure a new lending programme.
The IMF froze a $1.8 billion programme in 2024 after Sonko’s government uncovered misreported debts under the previous administration, estimated at over $11 billion.
Asked about his relationship with Faye during a live broadcast on Sunday, Sonko said the “debate” would be irrelevant “if the president is aligned with his party.” He added, “If the president is not aligned with his party, even though we all govern together, we’re in what I call a ‘soft power-sharing’ situation. We would manage our differences accordingly, and we would also seek common ground to move forward together.”
However, he warned that a clearer break could result in “more difficult cohabitation” or see Pastef, which holds a parliamentary majority, revert to opposition. “Pastef has no problem with either of these options,” Sonko said.
Sonko, who was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election due to a legal conviction, had chosen Faye, a longtime aide and Pastef member, as his replacement candidate. Faye subsequently appointed Sonko as prime minister.
Signs of dissension between the two leaders have emerged, including conflicting statements over the ruling coalition’s leadership in November. Sonko also sparked market volatility when he rejected an IMF-proposed debt restructuring, sending Senegal’s international bonds sharply lower.
Observers warn that any perceived discord could further delay negotiations with the IMF, complicating Senegal’s economic recovery efforts.
