Senegal: what will happen to the Pastef ministers who stayed in the new government?

The Senegalese political landscape is experiencing a new turbulence zone. Eleven days after Ousmane Sonko was dismissed from the Primature by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a new government was unveiled on Monday, June 1, 2026. A team of 30 ministers led by Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô, but without the Pastef, the party founded by Sonko, officially part of it.

Despite this position, five ministers from Pastef have decided to retain their ministerial portfolios. Among them is the Minister of Armed Forces, Yankoba Diémé. Their retention in the government contrasts with the stance set by the party leadership, which cited several disagreements with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

According to Pastef officials, the disagreements notably concern the distribution of ministries, management of public debt, accountability, and the desire to fully shed light on the political assassinations of recent years.

The situation of the five ministers now raises questions. So far, no official decision has been announced regarding a possible exclusion from the party. However, signs of a split are already visible. According to several sources, these officials have been removed from Pastef’s internal communication groups, while some members of their cabinets have submitted their resignations.

This crisis highlights the growing tensions between the two figures from the same political camp, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko. It also opens a period of uncertainty for the involved ministers, torn between their loyalty to the party and their desire to continue their mission within the executive.

The Pastef congress, scheduled for June 6, could be decisive. Party activists and leaders will likely examine the case of these ministers who remained in the government and may clarify their political future.