Senegal's President Fires Prime Minister and Government
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has fired Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. Faye then dissolved the entire government.
A presidential aide announced the news on late-night state television. Outgoing ministers are expected to stay in their roles until new ones are named.
Sonko's supporters gathered outside his home in Dakar to protest. The two men were once allies in the same political party.
But tensions between them had been building for months. The firing comes as Senegal faces a serious debt crisis.
The International Monetary Fund says Senegal's debt has reached 132% of its GDP. That makes Senegal the second most indebted country in sub-Saharan Africa.
Klear Note — Senegal is a West African country. A debt crisis means the government owes more money than it can pay back easily.
Key Terms 4
- Dissolved the government The president dismissed all ministers and ended the current government.
- GDP The total value of everything a country produces in a year.
- Sub-Saharan Africa The part of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, about 46 countries.
- International Monetary Fund A global body that tracks and helps countries manage their finances.