#Headlines

PM Sonko heads to Morocco to ease Senegal–Morocco tensions after AFCON

Jan 23, 2026, 12:39 PM | Article By: Pap Saine, in Morocco

According to official sources, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko is expected in Rabat from Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 January, in a diplomatic mission aimed at easing tensions between Senegal and Morocco.

The visit comes in the wake of strained relations following Senegal’s victory in the AFCON 35 final. The celebrations were marred by tragedy, with one Senegalese supporter reported dead and 17 others detained in Morocco for alleged disorderly conduct. Those detained are scheduled to face prosecution on 4 February 2025 in Rabat.

On social media, reports circulated claiming that Senegal’s national coach, Pape Thiaw, had been suspended indefinitely and that Senegal had been fined USD 300,000. However, after verification, these claims remain unsubstantiated, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not yet issued any official statement on its website.

During his visit, Prime Minister Sonko is expected to meet his Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Akhannouch, to address misunderstandings and seek to restore cordial relations between the two countries.