DAKAR (Reuters) -Senegal’s president and the political party he belongs to have issued conflicting statements over the leadership of the ruling coalition, a clear sign of dissension among top leaders amid drawn-out talks with the International Monetary Fund.

The West African country is trying to negotiate a new lending programme after the IMF froze a $1.8 billion financial support package last year. That decision was taken after the government disclosed hidden debts that are now estimated at more than $11 billion, which it blames on the previous government.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko hail from the same political party and have dismissed long-swirling rumours of a power struggle between them.

The charismatic Sonko, popular among Senegalese youth, cho

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