Senegal’s recently ousted Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, announced on Monday that the political party he leads will not participate in the country’s new government, raising the prospect of political gridlock amid a daunting debt crisis.
Sonko said in a post on X that he met on Monday with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, his ally-turned-rival, and that “points of disagreement” emerged about the future role of the Pastef party, which holds a large parliamentary majority.
Therefore, Pastef “will not participate in the next government and will not be represented by any ministers,” Sonko said.
“We wish the new team every success.”
Dans un esprit de responsabilité et conformément aux engagements du Comité exécutif (COMEX) du Parti, réitérés par le Président Ousmane Sonko lors de son installation à l’Assemblée nationale, Pastef-Les Patriotes a engagé plusieurs échanges avec le Président de la République en… pic.twitter.com/BfBIahGB0t
— Ousmane Sonko (@SonkoOfficiel) June 1, 2026
Sonko’s announcement came one hour before his successor as Prime Minister, seasoned economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, unveiled the new 30-member government, retaining Cheikh Diba in the critical post of Finance Minister as negotiations continue with the International Monetary Fund over a new lending programme.
Diba’s portfolio is being expanded to also include the economy ministry, something Lo said would create more “coherence” in policymaking.
