Senegal's President Macky Sall has dismissed Prime Minister Amadou Ba, sources confirm, in a dramatic escalation of a power struggle that has gripped the West African nation. The move, executed late Thursday, leaves the government in turmoil and raises questions about the stability of one of Africa's most resilient democracies.
Ba, a close ally of Sall, had been increasingly sidelined in recent months as tensions flared over control of the economy and security apparatus. Uncovered documents show that Ba's office was investigating senior officials in the president's inner circle for alleged corruption, a probe that was abruptly shut down two weeks ago.
"This is a purge, plain and simple," said a former minister who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Ba was getting too close to the truth. The president does not tolerate rivals, even loyal ones."
The sacking comes just days after the UK Foreign Office issued a statement reaffirming its support for Senegal's democratic institutions. "The United Kingdom stands with the people of Senegal in their pursuit of transparent and accountable governance," the statement read. But critics say the UK's track record in the region is mixed, with British banks implicated in laundering millions from West African state coffers.
"The British are happy to talk democracy while they look the other way on dirty money," said Moussa Diop, a Senegalese investigative journalist. "We've seen this play out before: a president consolidates power, the West claps, and the elite get richer."
Sall's office has not commented on the reasons for Ba's dismissal, but a leaked memo from the presidency cited "irreconcilable differences" over the direction of economic policy. Senegal, long seen as a stable investment hub, has seen its debt levels soar in recent years, with the IMF warning of fiscal risks.
Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was jailed last year on controversial charges, called the sacking a "desperate act" by an increasingly authoritarian regime. Sonko's supporters have been at the forefront of protests demanding an end to what they call "presidential monarchy."
But the UK, seeking to maintain influence in Francophone Africa, has been reluctant to criticise Sall directly. A senior diplomat, speaking off the record, admitted: "We need Senegal on side for counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel. Ba was making things difficult."
The sacking leaves Senegal in a precarious position. Ba was the architect of the economic recovery plan that won praise from international lenders. His removal could spook investors and derail negotiations with the IMF for a new bailout package.
For now, President Sall has appointed his finance minister, Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo, as interim prime minister. Diallo, a loyalist with no independent power base, is expected to toe the line. But as the sun sets over Dakar, the clouds of an escalating political crisis grow darker. The countdown to a scandal has begun.
