Senegal President Faye Warns Ruling Pastef Party Risks Collapse Amid Rift With PM Sonko
Primary region Africa
Tags Elections · Policy
Regions Africa
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye warned in a televised interview on May 4 that the ruling Pastef party risks collapse due to 'excessive personalisation' around Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. Faye stated he has the right to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and will 'put Senegal's interests first.' The rift has been building since March when Sonko threatened to take Pastef out of government if Faye diverged from the party's vision. Senegal's National Assembly recently passed electoral reform that could pave the way for Sonko to run in the 2029 presidential election.
Strategic interpretation
The Faye-Sonko rift represents a critical test for Senegal's democracy, widely seen as one of West Africa's most stable. If the ruling party fractures, it could destabilize the reform agenda and complicate debt negotiations with the IMF. The power struggle also has implications for Senegal's role as a regional mediator and its relationships with both Western and Gulf state partners.