Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sacked Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the nation’s government after months of tensions between the two men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A shock decree, read out on TV by a presidential aide, said Faye had “ended the duties” of his one-time political ally Sonko and “consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who are members of the government”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sonko, a popular figure among Senegal’s youth, said on social media that he would “sleep with a light heart”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The split comes as the country faces mounting economic pressure, with its public debt having reached the equivalent of 132% of its GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sonko’s dismissal followed a parliamentary session on Tuesday, during which the prime minister openly criticised Fayefor his approach to the debt crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faye was in the unusual situation of owing his position, in large part, to his prime minister’s popularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sonko would almost certainly have taken the top job had he not been barred from running in 2024’s elections due to a defamation conviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Sonko backed Faye’s bid for presidency, using the slogan “Diomaye is Sonko, Sonko is Diomaye”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pair went on to unseat then-President Macky Sall –\u00a0an extra ordinary victory given they were both in prion until 10 days before the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Late on Tuesday night, several hundred students demonstrated on the streets of the capital city, Dakar, declaring their support for Sonko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No details have been provided on the appointment of a new prime minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tensions between Sonko and Faye have been on display for months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faye had reportedly criticised Sonko’s “excessive personalisation” within the ruling party Pastef, while Sonko accused the president of a “failure of leadership” for not defending him against his critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amid this feud, Senegal’s leaders have been grappling with the colossal amount of debt they inherited from the previous government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The IMF has frozen its $1.8bn (\u00a31.3bn) lending programme with Senegal as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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