Senegal’s president fires prime minister after months of tensions
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko after months of escalating tensions between the two former allies from the Pastef party.
- The firing led to the resignation of all government members and the dissolution of the government, as announced by government secretary general Oumar Samba Ba.
- Sonko, barred from running in the 2024 election due to a defamation conviction, was appointed Prime Minister after Faye ran in his place and won.
- The Pastef party defeated the former ruling party amid unrest linked to former President Macky Sall’s attempt to amend the constitution for an extended term, which sparked violence and deaths.
- Recent disagreements between Faye and Sonko included criticism over policy decisions, notably the negotiation of an IMF loan, culminating in Sonko’s dismissal.