« J'attendais une discussion, j'ai reçu un limogeage » : Ousmane Sonko retrace sa dernière rencontre avec le chef de l'État
In the wake of the formation of the government led by Ahmadou Alamine Mohamed Lo, former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko broke his silence in a press conference on Tuesday. The Pastef leader gave his account of the break with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, citing deep political differences, strategic disagreements, and an alleged attempt to weaken his party.
From the outset, Ousmane Sonko recalled the hopes raised by the rise to power of the duo he formed with Bassirou Diomaye Faye. "Great hope was born with our coming to power, in Senegal as well as in Africa. We nominated a candidate a little over two years ago, and the Senegalese people placed their trust in him," he declared. Without calling it a failure, the former head of government nevertheless acknowledged that the experience of governing was marked by difficulties. "I wouldn't say that this hope collapsed, but we faced many challenges. We tried to limit the damage to meet the expectations of the people." According to him, Pastef did everything possible to avoid a split for which it did not want to bear the responsibility: "We did everything to ensure that the separation did not originate from Pastef."
A decisive meeting at the Palace
Reflecting on the events that led to his departure from the Prime Minister's office, Sonko claims he was summoned by the Head of State a few hours after his question to the National Assembly. "We spoke like two leaders who respect each other. He informed me that it would be difficult to continue our partnership and that some of my statements were problematic for him." According to him, the President wanted to present their separation as a mutual decision. A version he says he rejected. "He wanted us to say together that we had discussed and agreed to part ways. I refused because there was never any discussion of that nature. He simply had to accept his dismissal."
"I was expecting a discussion, I received a dismissal."
Ousmane Sonko claims to have repeatedly offered to clarify their political relationship. “I even told him that if I was overshadowing him, I could return to the National Assembly and continue working with him in a different capacity.” But the promised discussion never took place. “I was waiting for him to call me. Instead, a minister informed me that he couldn’t see me. Fifteen minutes later, I saw the Secretary General of the Government read my dismissal decree.” The former Prime Minister also denounces the appointment of his successor without consulting Pastef. “He appointed Al Amine Lo without consulting the party. Then, some ministers were approached to join the new government.”
Accusations of attempting to weaken Pastef
The Pastef president sees this move as a political strategy aimed at reducing his influence. "It's an attempt to dismantle Pastef by handing out favors to certain officials. He's trying to demonstrate that he can wield political power without the party." In a particularly scathing statement, Sonko even questioned Bassirou Diomaye Faye's ability to mobilize activists on his own: "I've always asked him to organize a Pastef rally without Ousmane Sonko to gauge his true influence."
Beyond personal tensions, Ousmane Sonko mentions fundamental disagreements on several major issues. These include the management of public debt, relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), price policy, and the functioning of the justice system. "I wanted to discuss the debt and commitments with the IMF. On these issues, we disagreed. The same goes for prices and the justice system. He believes everything is functioning normally, which is not my opinion."
The former Prime Minister also revealed disagreements over the composition of the future government. According to him, the president proposed limiting Pastef's representation to seven portfolios out of some thirty ministries, while entrusting certain key ministries to technocrats. "I consulted with the party's grassroots members, who rejected this proposal." Sonko also stated that Bassirou Diomaye Faye criticized several ministers for their political ties to him. "He considered them disloyal simply because they were ministers, all the while chanting 'Sonko 2029'." For the Pastef leader, this attitude reflected a desire to gradually marginalize his political movement within the government. "I understood that he wanted to weaken us politically. We refused to let him."
The break is now complete.
This media appearance marks Ousmane Sonko's first detailed statement since leaving the Prime Minister's office and the appointment of Al Amine Lo. It confirms the existence of deep divisions between the two men who, together, had embodied the political transition promised by 2024. While President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has not yet publicly responded to these accusations, Sonko's statements open a new political chapter whose consequences could permanently reshape the balance of power at the highest levels of government and within the majority coalition stemming from Pastef.
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