Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced a new government on Monday, featuring several members and allies of a party led by his estranged ally, Ousmane Sonko. However, Sonko, who was recently dismissed as prime minister by Faye, has pledged that his party, Pastef, which holds a significant parliamentary majority, will not participate in the new administration.

The announcement followed President Faye's dismissal of Sonko and the entire cabinet less than two weeks prior, citing disagreements, particularly concerning the nation's struggling economy. Sonko, a popular figure and Faye's former mentor, was subsequently elected speaker of parliament by his allies in a vote boycotted by the opposition, further intensifying the political crisis in the West African nation.

In a statement posted on X, Sonko revealed that he met with Faye on Monday and that "points of disagreement" emerged regarding the future role of the Pastef party. Consequently, Pastef "will not participate in the next government and will not be represented by any ministers," Sonko stated, while still wishing the new team success.

President Faye named senior economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo as the new prime minister, expressing confidence in Lo's expertise to address Senegal's debt challenges. Prime Minister Lo subsequently announced a cabinet of 30 new ministers, including several Pastef members, but notably absent were some senior figures from the party who had served in the previous government.

This political rift marks a significant shift after Faye appointed Sonko as prime minister in April 2024, shortly after Faye's own presidential election victory. Sonko, who was barred from the presidential race due to a defamation conviction, had been a key figure in Faye's rise to power, leveraging pan-Africanist rhetoric to gain support among young Senegalese.

Tensions between Faye and Sonko began to surface in July, when Sonko accused Faye of "failure of leadership" for not adequately supporting him against critics. The dynamic shifted further in May when Faye publicly suggested the party needed to be "depersonalised" from any single dominant leader.

Pastef, founded by Sonko in 2014 and to which Faye also belongs, commands a substantial majority in Senegal's legislative body, holding 130 out of 165 seats. The party's decision not to join the new government leaves President Faye to navigate the country's economic and political landscape with a potentially fractured legislative base.

Despite the internal party disagreements, President Faye has indicated openness to discussions with international partners, suggesting a continued focus on addressing the nation's economic recovery and reform agenda.