Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô: Senegal's new Prime Minister

Updated 21 June 2026

Economist and former BCEAO director Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô became Senegal's PM on 25 May 2026, leading a 30-minister technocratic government formed without PASTEF.

On 25 May 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye named the economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô Prime Minister of Senegal, three days after dismissing Ousmane Sonko.^[1]

A central-bank technocrat

Lô spent most of his career at the BCEAO (the West African central bank), rising to Secretary-General and serving as its National Director for Senegal from 2018 to 2023.^[1] He had been Secretary-General of the Government and then minister of state for the “Senegal 2050” agenda. His appointment signalled a deliberate technocratic turn, with the debt and IMF files — which had divided the previous government — at the top of his agenda.^[1]

A government without PASTEF

On 1 June 2026, Faye signed the decree forming a 30-minister government (decree n°2026-1130): 8 ministers retained, 3 reshuffled and 15 new, with the Economy, Finance and Plan portfolios merged under Cheikh Diba.^[3] The same day, PASTEF announced it would not take part and would have no minister in the cabinet — choosing to anchor its power in the party and parliament rather than the executive.^[2]

The government’s first major test came quickly: an IMF mission opened talks in Dakar on 8 June over a new programme and Senegal’s debt, estimated near 132% of GDP. See the full timeline.