Lô's Government: Pastef's Absence Sends a Clear Political Signal

On Monday, Senegal's new Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô unveiled his cabinet. A 30-member team that carries a discreet but weighty signature: the near-total absence of figures from Pastef, the party of Ousmane Sonko, the former head of government dismissed at the end of May by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This choice is no accident. In Senegal, government composition is always a political act. By sidelining Pastef figures, Lô sends a clear message: the break with the Sonko era is complete. Yet Pastef remains a major electoral force, and its absence from the executive could complicate the new PM's task. For observers, this reshuffle looks like a power grab by President Faye. By appointing a government without the heavyweights of the party that won the legislative elections, he asserts his own authority. But this decision carries risks: Pastef, now de facto in opposition, could harden its tone. On the streets of Dakar, opinions are divided. Some see a necessary political clarification; others, an unnecessary provocation. One thing is certain: Senegalese politics enters a new phase, where dialogue between the palace and the majority party will be tested. Time will tell whether this government without Pastef can govern with Sonko's shadow in the rearview mirror. Meanwhile, Senegal holds its breath.