Senegal’s leadership tensions: political power struggle at the top
The relationship between Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has become a focal point for opposition scrutiny. Abdou Mbow, a prominent member of the Takku Wallu parliamentary group and the Alliance for the Republic (APR), publicly describes the situation as a political showdown coupled with an institutional crisis. His assessment, rooted in the party of former President Macky Sall, highlights contradictory signals emerging from the executive branch over recent weeks.
Executive tensions mount between president and prime minister
Elected together in March 2024 on a shared platform of radical change, Faye and Sonko embodied a dual leadership approach championed by the Pastef party. Initially, their roles appeared complementary, with a smooth division of responsibilities between the presidency and the prime minister’s office. However, growing divergences have surfaced—particularly regarding reform pace, management of inherited judicial cases, and government communication strategies.
In Abdou Mbow’s view, these discrepancies are no longer mere background noise. He interprets them as signs of a latent power struggle between two competing centers of influence, each vying to dictate the government’s tempo. The crux of the issue lies in the question of political primacy: Sonko, as Pastef’s undisputed leader and victorious legislative candidate in November 2024, versus Faye, who holds constitutional authority as the sole executive powerholder. This dynamic fuels the opposition’s narrative.
Opposition seizes on cracks in the executive
The APR, the former ruling party led by ex-President Macky Sall, is attempting to capitalize on these internal frictions. Following its defeat in both the presidential and legislative elections, the party is repositioning itself as a guardian of institutional stability. Takku Wallu, the dominant opposition bloc in the National Assembly, has intensified its rhetoric, framing the government’s internal tensions as a threat to state functionality.
By labeling the situation a ‘crisis of institutions’, Abdou Mbow shifts the debate from partisan politics to national stability. This framing raises concerns about policy coherence, especially as critical initiatives—such as renegotiating mining and oil contracts, restoring public finances, and implementing the Senegal 2050 Agenda—demand unified executive direction.
Dual leadership tested by economic pressures
The economic backdrop amplifies the stakes of any executive division. Recent audits have exposed a public debt exceeding prior official estimates, prompting tense negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. Managing this debt, coupled with potential revisions to hydrocarbon tax frameworks, requires a clear and unified strategy from both the presidency and the prime minister’s office.
Observers note that recent policy decisions have revealed subtle but meaningful differences between the two leaders’ teams. Sonko’s assertive stance toward economic actors, media, and judicial figures contrasts with Faye’s more measured institutional approach. While this division was once seen as complementary, opposition groups now frame it as a vulnerability to exploit.
Despite mounting speculation, neither the presidency nor the prime minister’s office has acknowledged an open rift. The government maintains a facade of unity during cabinet meetings and public appearances. Abdou Mbow’s statements thus reflect a battle over narrative, with the APR seeking to cement the idea of a weakened executive team, while Pastef insists on the strength of their collaborative leadership.
The stakes extend beyond domestic politics. The ability of Senegal’s top leadership to resolve these tensions will shape investor confidence and international partner trust—critical at a time when Dakar is negotiating new financing terms and structuring revenue from oil fields like GTA and Sangomar.
