Sonko Pulls Pastef From Senegal's 30-Member Cabinet as IMF Talks Loom Over $1.8 Billion Freeze
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 1
Sonko Pulls Pastef From Senegal's 30-Member Cabinet as IMF Talks Loom Over $1.8 Billion Freeze
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 1
Summary
Ousmane Sonko said Pastef will not join Senegal's new government after talks with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye exposed disagreements over the party's role, deepening the split between the former allies.
Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo unveiled a 30-member cabinet an hour later, kept Cheikh Diba as finance minister and folded the economy portfolio into his brief as Dakar prepares to resume IMF talks the week of June 8.
That standoff risks political gridlock because Pastef holds a large parliamentary majority, and lawmakers last week reinstated Sonko as an MP and backed him as speaker with 132 votes in the 165-seat assembly.
The power struggle lands amid a debt crisis after misreported liabilities pushed Senegal's end-2024 debt to 132% of GDP and prompted the IMF to freeze its $1.8 billion programme.
How can Senegal's president secure a bailout when his former mentor, now Speaker, is positioned to block all reforms?
Will the rivalry between Senegal's top leaders forge a stronger democracy or push the nation deeper into economic crisis?
Did the IMF deliberately overlook billions in hidden debt to protect a key political ally in West Africa?
Senegal in Crisis: Political Rupture, IMF Stalemate, and the Battle to Restore Economic Stability in 2026
Overview
On May 22, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, marking a major political shift in Senegal. This decision followed ongoing disagreements over economic management and the role of the Pastef party in government, as well as Sonko’s desire for a different political position. After his dismissal, Sonko was elected Speaker of the National Assembly, giving him significant power to influence Faye’s agenda, especially since Pastef holds a strong parliamentary majority. This new dynamic, set against the backdrop of a severe financial crisis, has created a complex balance of power that could shape Senegal’s future reforms and stability.