The newly appointed Prime Minister of Sénégal unveiled the cabinet lineup this Monday. Hours earlier, Ousmane Sonko, leader of the ruling party Pastef-Les Patriotes, declared that none of its members would be included in the government.

This decisive move seals the political rift between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former ally, Ousmane Sonko, finalizing the split that had been unfolding for weeks.

Among university students, particularly at the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, the news has sparked widespread confusion and disappointment. Many young voters who once saw the duo as a beacon of change remain stunned by their sudden fallout.

The weight of shattered expectations

Beneath the sprawling baobab trees of the Faculty of Arts, Amath Segnane reviews his notes. Like countless young supporters, he had pinned his hopes on the alliance between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko.

The student does not mince his words. “They sold us the idea that Diomaye and Sonko were inseparable. They convinced us they trusted each other completely, ready to work side by side to transform this nation. But now that they’ve turned their backs on each other, it’s nothing short of crushing,” he admits, his voice heavy with disappointment.

For him, the rupture strips away the image of unity that once defined their political journey.

Signs of a coming storm

In the moments before his economics lecture, Mamadou Bah offers a different perspective. He believes the rupture was inevitable.

“For a long time, we could see the tensions brewing,” he explains. “The former Prime Minister stopped respecting the President’s authority. He acted as if he were above the head of state. I’m not surprised he was removed, nor by the breakdown of their alliance. I fully support the President’s decision,” he states.

Though disappointed, he acknowledges that the President acted within his rights to reclaim control over the executive branch.

Between disbelief and uncertainty about the future

Not everyone has accepted the reality of a permanent split. Omar Sarr, an Arabic studies student, refuses to believe the partnership is over for good.

“Without Sonko, Diomaye would never have reached the presidency,” he argues. “They fought side by side for years and won the election together. Right now, people are divided—some back Diomaye, others Sonko. I don’t believe this is the end. I refuse to accept it,” he declares.

With the President now governing without the backing of the majority party, Pastef-Les Patriotes, and Ousmane Sonko taking the helm of the National Assembly as leader of the opposition, the political landscape in Sénégal remains fluid. The uncertainty continues to fuel debates across the country.