Sonko's party boycotts Faye's new cabinet over economic disagreements.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye unveiled a new cabinet on Monday, a move that immediately sparked a political rift after the ruling party, led by ousted Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, announced it would boycott the administration. Less than two weeks after dismissing Sonko and the entire cabinet due to deep disagreements over the nation's economic trajectory, Faye presented his new team via live television. The new Prime Minister is Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo, a senior economist selected for his ability to guide Senegal out of its severe debt crisis.

Sonko, who founded the Pastef party in 2014 and currently holds 130 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly, confirmed that his party would not join the new government. In a statement on social media, Sonko explained that a meeting with Faye on Monday revealed significant "points of disagreement" regarding the future role of the party. "Some points of agreement were indeed confirmed, but also, above all, points of disagreement," Sonko stated. Consequently, he declared that Pastef "will not participate in the next government and will not be represented by any ministers." Despite the boycott, the new list of 30 ministers includes several Pastef members, though it notably excludes many senior figures from the previous administration.

The political fallout follows a turbulent timeline. Sonko, a popular figure with pan-Africanist rhetoric, was appointed Prime Minister in April 2024 shortly after Faye's election, though he was barred from running for president himself due to a defamation conviction. Tensions escalated in July when Sonko accused Faye of leadership failures and insufficient support against critics. The conflict deepened in May when Faye criticized the party for being too dependent on a single dominant leader. Following the dismissal of the original cabinet, Sonko was swiftly elected speaker of parliament by his allies, a vote boycotted by opposition lawmakers that intensified the crisis in the West African nation.

The economic dispute remains central to the split. While President Faye has indicated openness to discussing a new loan program with the International Monetary Fund, Sonko has consistently advocated for a more sovereign economic approach. The new government's formation marks a significant shift, as the Pastef party, which controls the legislative majority, refuses to legitimize the administration formed without its full participation. Sonko expressed a wish for the new team's success but maintained his party's stance against representation in the cabinet.