President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has finalized his new cabinet lineup, but the ruling coalition’s key partner, Ousmane Sonko’s Pastef party, is notably absent. The decision follows weeks of escalating tensions between the two allies, culminating in Sonko’s abrupt removal from the government earlier this month.

The standoff between Faye and Sonko centers on competing visions for governance. While the president pushed for a streamlined executive team, Sonko’s party insisted on maintaining a stronger parliamentary presence within the cabinet. These unbridgeable differences were confirmed in a late-night meeting that failed to yield a compromise.

Sonko, who was recently elected Speaker of the National Assembly after his dismissal as prime minister, made the party’s withdrawal official through a statement on social media. The announcement cited “irreconcilable differences” over the distribution of ministerial roles and the strategic direction of the executive branch. “No Pastef-affiliated minister will join the new government,” the statement declared, underscoring the depth of the rift.

The cabinet reshuffle introduces 30 new ministers, with several key figures from the ruling coalition notably excluded. Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô has been appointed to lead the transition, tasked with navigating a delicate political moment as Senegal grapples with severe economic challenges.

The country faces mounting financial pressures following revelations of significant debt underreporting in 2024, which propelled public debt to 132% of GDP by year’s end. International financial institutions have responded by freezing support, including a $1.8 billion IMF loan program. Negotiations to restore fiscal stability are scheduled to resume next week, with officials aiming for a breakthrough before the June 30 deadline.