By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has said he is prepared to withdraw his party from government and return to the opposition if President Bassirou Diomaye Faye strays from their shared political vision, in remarks that have heightened concerns about stability at the top of the West African nation’s leadership.
Speaking during a live broadcast, Sonko warned that differences between himself and the president could lead to a strained power-sharing arrangement. He said that while collaboration could continue as long as there was alignment, any serious divergence would compel his party, African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF), to reconsider its role in government and potentially return to the opposition.
It would be recalled that Sonko was barred from contesting the 2024 presidential election following a legal conviction and subsequently endorsed Faye, a close ally within Pastef, as the party’s candidate. After winning the presidency, Faye appointed Sonko as prime minister. However, recent disagreements over leadership style and the direction of economic policy have exposed tensions within the governing alliance.
The political strains come at a challenging time for Senegal, which is grappling with unrest in universities and difficult negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. The IMF froze a $1.8 billion support programme in 2024 after authorities disclosed more than $11 billion in previously unreported debt, a revelation that unsettled investors and complicated efforts to stabilise the economy.
Sonko’s comments are likely to fuel uncertainty among investors already wary of fiscal pressures and ongoing debt talks. Analysts say any formal split within the executive could disrupt policy coordination and further delay negotiations with international lenders, at a time when Senegal is seeking to restore confidence in its public finances.
