Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has said he is prepared to pull his party out of government and return to the opposition if President Bassirou Diomaye Faye strays from their shared political agenda, fuelling speculation of tensions at the top of the country’s leadership. Speaking during a live broadcast, Sonko said governance would remain stable “if the president is aligned with his party.” However, he cautioned that growing differences could lead to what he described as a “soft power-sharing” arrangement. In the event of a complete break, he said either a difficult cohabitation would follow or the ruling party, PASTEF which he leads and which controls a majority in parliament would withdraw from government and move back into opposition.
The comments come at a delicate moment for Senegal, which has faced campus unrest, rising living costs and complex negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. In 2024, the IMF suspended a $1.8 billion support programme after the new administration disclosed more than $11 billion in previously unreported public debt accumulated under the former government, raising concerns about fiscal transparency and debt sustainability. Sonko, a former tax inspector and prominent opposition leader under ex-president Macky Sall, was barred from contesting the 2024 presidential election due to a prior legal conviction. He subsequently endorsed Faye, a close political ally, who won the presidency and appointed Sonko as prime minister.
In recent months, signs of strain have emerged within the ruling coalition. In November, differing public statements over coalition leadership hinted at internal disagreements. Tensions also surfaced over reports that the IMF had proposed a debt restructuring plan, an idea Sonko publicly rejected. His remarks contributed to a sharp drop in Senegal’s international bond prices at the time, reflecting investor anxiety. While neither leader has confirmed a formal dispute, Sonko’s latest comments underscore potential fault lines within an administration elected on promises of reform, anti-corruption measures and economic sovereignty.
