Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has appointed a new Prime minister following the dismissal of his predecessor, a decision that has triggered a full government dissolution and deepened tensions within the ruling political establishment.
In a statement read on national television on Monday, May 25, President Faye named former banking executive Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as head of government, replacing Ousmane Sonko.
The reshuffle comes after Mr Sonko was removed from office on last Friday, following months of strained relations with the President over policy direction, including negotiations linked to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. His dismissal led to the resignation of all Cabinet members and the formal dissolution of the Government.
Mr Lo, a former executive at the Central Bank of West African States, is expected to form a new administration. He previously served as a state minister in the Presidency and as Secretary-general in Mr Sonko’s government, positioning him as an experienced technocrat within the country’s economic governance architecture.
The political rupture highlights widening divisions within the ruling coalition, Panafrican Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity, which came to power following the March 2024 elections.
The latest developments mark a significant recalibration of Senegal’s executive leadership at a time when the country faces mounting fiscal pressures and internal political realignment.