Senegal's President Faye sacks PM Sonko and dissolves government
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sacked Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government, BBC Africa reports. The months-long tension between Faye and Pastef party founder Sonko has reached its peak. UEMOA regional bond yields rose on the news.
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced in a Friday address to the nation that he had dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government. Faye said 'we need a new coalition structure to reach the country's economic transformation goals; the current administrative structure has not been able to carry this vision forward'. Sonko, one of the founders of the influential Pastef-African Patriots of Senegal party, had personally supported Faye in the 2024 presidential election and brought him into government.
BBC's Dakar correspondent Maud Jullien analysed that 'the Faye-Sonko disagreement deepened on multiple issues including oil revenue sharing, monetary policy negotiations with the BCEAO and the Chinese iron ore partnership; serious backlash from the Pastef base is expected'. Sonko, in a statement on his social media account, said 'I am continuing my responsibility to the people and the party; I will make a detailed statement in the coming days'.
Eco region bond yields rose 28 basis points on the news; CFA franc futures lost 0.9 per cent on a weekly basis. West African Monetary Union (UEMOA) Commission President Abdoulaye Diop said 'we are in close communication with Senegal to maintain regional financial stability'. EU Ambassador to Senegal Jean-Marc Pisani said 'our commitment to supporting the structural security of democratic institutions has not changed'. The IMF's review of the USD 3.1 billion programme will take place in Dakar on 9-13 June.
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