Senegal’s ousted PM Sonko re-elected as Pastef party leader amid political crisis
Ousmane Sonko’s re-election at a congress in Diamniadio intensifies tensions in the West African nation, as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye calls for unity to prevent further destabilisation.
Ousmane Sonko has been re-elected as head of the Pan-African Pastef party, a move that deepens the political crisis in Senegal following his dismissal as prime minister by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The leadership vote was confirmed on Saturday at a party congress held in Diamniadio, outside the capital Dakar, with the result read out to attendees at the gathering.
Sonko, who currently serves as the speaker of the National Assembly, secured the position easily. His re-election comes shortly after he was elected to the parliamentary role in May 2026, following his removal from the premiership on 22 May. The development underscores the shifting power dynamics within Senegal’s largest parliamentary party and the broader government.
The political rift between Sonko and Faye has plunged the West African nation into significant upheaval. The two men share a complex history that began when Sonko, a powerful political figure, was barred from standing in the 2024 presidential election. Sonko subsequently anointed Faye to run in his place, and Faye won the presidency. Sonko then served as his premier, but months of mounting tension led to the recent rupture.
President Faye has recently urged national unity in response to the growing division. In a speech delivered on Thursday, the president warned against internal conflicts that could destabilise the heavily indebted country. "No quarrel, however bitter, is worth tearing apart the country we share," Faye stated, highlighting the risks posed by the ongoing dispute between the former mentor and his protégé.
The crisis has created uncertainty for the Pan-African Pastef party, which remains the biggest force in parliament. While Sonko retains the party leadership and a key legislative position, the fallout from his sacking continues to challenge the stability of the administration. The specific details of the tensions that led to the dismissal remain largely unpublicised, but the institutional standoff between the presidency and the party leadership persists.
