Senegal’s President to run 25-minister-cabinet

On Friday, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced his government, consisting of 25 ministers and 5 junior ministers. President Bassirou Diomaye gave his approval to the cabinet list.

The performance of the council of ministers will be closely monitored both domestically and internationally. Diomaye has pledged bold changes, such as discontinuing the use of the CFA Franc and conducting an audit of Senegal’s oil and gas contracts with foreign companies.

Cheikh Diba, a former head of budget programming, was appointed as the finance minister, while Birame Souleye Diop, previously the vice president of Sonko and Faye’s dissolved Pastef party, was given the oil and energy portfolio.

Yassine Fall, the vice-president of Pastef, was named as the minister of foreign affairs.

Diomaye selected Ousmane Sonko, his mentor and close associate, as prime minister shortly after being inaugurated as Senegal’s fifth head of state on Tuesday.

Diomaye, who ran for president while in prison, capitalized on public dissatisfaction with President Macky Sall to win by a large margin in the first round of elections with Sonko’s support.