Despite constitutional term limits, President Wade ran for a third term in 2012. His decision sparked violent protests that threatened to destabilize the country. Wade lost decisively in the second round in March to former prime minister Macky Sall.

Macky Salls move from prime minister to president became official on April 2, 2012. The following day he named Abdoul Mbaye as prime minister, and completed his cabinet on the 3rd with Alioune Badara Cissé as foreign minister, Augustin Tine as defense minister, Mbaye Ndiaye as interior minister, and Amadou Kane as finance minister.

On September 1, 2013, President Sall fired Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye along with his cabinet. A spokesman for the president did not say why Mbaye and his cabinet were dismissed. Sall announced Aminata Touré as the new prime minister. Touré became the second female prime minister of Senegal. Mame Madior Boye was the first. Touré previously served as justice minister where she pursued corruption cases within the government.