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Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved Senegal’s government following months of growing political tensions between the two leaders.

The dramatic announcement was made through a presidential decree read on national television, stating that President Faye had “ended the duties of Ousmane Sonko” along with those of ministers and state secretaries serving in the government.

The move marks a major political rupture within Senegal’s ruling leadership, less than two years after the pair secured a historic election victory that reshaped the country’s political landscape.

Sonko, one of Senegal’s most influential opposition figures and a popular voice among the youth, reacted shortly after the announcement, saying on social media that he would “sleep with a light heart.”

The dismissal followed a tense parliamentary session on Tuesday during which Sonko openly criticized President Faye, exposing divisions that had reportedly been building within the ruling Pastef movement for months.

Political tensions between the two leaders had increasingly become public in recent months, with reports suggesting that President Faye had grown uncomfortable with what he viewed as Sonko’s dominant political influence and “excessive personalisation” within the ruling party.

At the same time, Sonko had accused the president of showing weak leadership and failing to defend him against political attacks and criticism.

The fallout is particularly significant because Faye’s rise to the presidency was closely tied to Sonko’s popularity and political backing.

Sonko had originally been widely expected to contest and potentially win Senegal’s 2024 presidential election. However, a defamation conviction barred him from running, leading him to endorse Faye as the Pastef candidate.

The alliance proved successful, with Faye winning the presidency in what many observers described as an extraordinary political comeback. Both Faye and Sonko had been released from prison only days before the election after months of political unrest and legal battles that had drawn international attention.

Following news of Sonko’s dismissal, several hundred students reportedly gathered in the streets of Dakar overnight to demonstrate in support of the former prime minister, highlighting his continued influence among young Senegalese voters.

The political crisis comes at a difficult economic moment for Senegal. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country’s public debt has reached approximately 132 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), increasing pressure on the government to stabilize the economy and maintain investor confidence.

Analysts say the split between Faye and Sonko could significantly reshape Senegal’s political future, especially within the ruling coalition that had largely depended on their partnership and shared anti-establishment message.

The dissolution of government is expected to trigger a cabinet reshuffle and potentially deepen uncertainty within Senegal’s political environment as the country navigates mounting economic and governance challenges.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health has confirmed three new cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to five.

In a press release issued on May 23, 2026, the Ministry said the newly confirmed cases include a Ugandan driver, a Ugandan health worker, and a Congolese woman linked to earlier Ebola exposure and contact tracing investigations.

According to the Ministry, one of the new patients is a Ugandan driver who transported the country’s first confirmed Ebola case. Health officials said he is currently receiving treatment.

The second confirmed case involves a Ugandan health worker who was exposed to the virus while caring for the country’s first Ebola patient. Authorities confirmed that she is also undergoing treatment.

The Ministry noted that both individuals had already been identified among known contacts under follow-up by surveillance teams.

The third confirmed case is a Congolese woman residing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to health authorities, she entered Uganda from the DRC while experiencing mild abdominal symptoms.

The patient reportedly traveled from Arua to Entebbe using a chartered flight and later sought medical attention at a private hospital in Kampala on May 10, 2026.

The Ministry said the woman was initially treated and discharged in stable condition on May 14 before returning to the DRC. However, Ugandan health authorities later received information from the pilot who had airlifted her, prompting additional follow-up investigations by surveillance teams.

Subsequent laboratory testing later confirmed that she had tested positive for Ebola Virus Disease.

Health officials said all contacts linked to the confirmed cases have since been identified and are currently being closely monitored by response teams as part of ongoing containment measures.

The Ministry of Health urged the public to remain calm but vigilant and continue observing all recommended preventive measures.

Authorities also called on the public to immediately report any suspected Ebola symptoms to the nearest health facility, emphasizing that early treatment significantly improves survival chances.

The Ministry further stated that it continues to strengthen surveillance systems, case management, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns in efforts to contain the outbreak and protect public health.

The latest development comes as Uganda intensifies nationwide Ebola response measures, including enhanced border screening, public sensitization campaigns, restrictions on mass gatherings in high-risk areas, and strengthened health surveillance along the Uganda-DRC border.

The Ministry of Water and Environment has conducted a three-day training aimed at strengthening the technical and institutional capacity of local and national government officials to improve ecosystem restoration efforts while promoting gender inclusion and minimizing community grievances during project implementation.

The training, organized under the Ecosystems-based Adaptation (EbA) Project, was held at Hotel Triangle in Mbarara City and brought together officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment, district local governments, and technical teams from Mbarara, Kamwenge, Ibanda, Kitagwenda, and Mbarara City.

According to the Ministry, the training focused on equipping officials with skills to mainstream gender and inclusive participation in environmental restoration projects, while also enhancing their ability to manage restoration and demarcation exercises involving wetlands, forests, rivers, and lakeshores.

Officials said the sessions were designed to strengthen coordination between national and local governments as Uganda continues implementing climate resilience and environmental protection interventions.

Among the key objectives of the training was building the capacity of government officials to integrate gender considerations into project implementation processes and ensure participation of all community groups during restoration activities.

Participants were also trained on planning and managing restoration interventions affecting wetlands, riverbanks, forest ecosystems, and lakeshores, as well as handling grievances that may arise from restoration and boundary demarcation exercises.

The Ministry noted that environmental restoration projects often involve sensitive community concerns related to land use, livelihoods, and access to natural resources, making grievance management an important part of project implementation.

Officials emphasized the need for local leaders and technical officers to appropriately identify, manage, and refer community complaints to ensure peaceful and effective implementation of conservation initiatives.

The expected outcomes of the training include improved institutional capacity to manage ecosystem restoration activities, strengthened grievance handling systems, and enhanced gender mainstreaming across environmental projects.

The Ecosystems-based Adaptation Project is being implemented by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environment under the Wetlands Management Department.

The initiative receives financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Government says the project is part of broader national efforts to strengthen climate resilience, restore degraded ecosystems, and promote sustainable environmental management in vulnerable communities across Uganda.

Environmental experts have increasingly emphasized the importance of ecosystem restoration in addressing climate change impacts, protecting biodiversity, improving water resources, and supporting sustainable livelihoods.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with local governments and communities to strengthen environmental conservation efforts while ensuring inclusive participation and reduced conflict during implementation of restoration activities.