Senegal President Faye Warns Ruling Pastef Party Risks Collapse Amid Rift with PM Sonko
Primary region Africa
Tags Elections · Protest
Regions Africa
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye warned in a televised address that the ruling Pastef party risks collapse due to 'excessive personalisation' and internal divisions. Faye stated that Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko remains PM only as long as he retains the president's confidence. Sonko had previously threatened to withdraw Pastef from government in March 2026. The public rift between Senegal's two most powerful leaders comes amid economic challenges including stalled IMF negotiations over a $1.8 billion program and rising global oil prices linked to the Iran conflict. Faye asserted his constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister. Sonko is expected to run for president in 2029, and electoral reform adopted in April 2026 has paved the way for his presidential bid.
Strategic interpretation
The Faye-Sonko rift threatens to destabilize what was recently seen as West Africa's most promising democratic transition. If the ruling party fractures, it could embolden the opposition and undermine Senegal's institutional stability at a time when neighboring Sahel states are under military rule. The economic headwinds — stalled IMF negotiations and rising fuel prices — compound the political risk. Faye's assertion of constitutional authority signals he is prepared to dismiss Sonko if necessary, but doing so could trigger a political crisis that damages both men's 2029 ambitions.