"Ne pas dechirer le pays" : Sonko répond aux propos de Diomaye lors de l'hommage à Wade
Three weeks after leaving the Prime Minister's office, former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko gave a lengthy interview to international media outlets France 24 and RFI. When questioned about the ongoing tensions with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the now-President of the National Assembly refuted any risk of destabilization for the country. While acknowledging his institutional break with the Head of State, the Pastef leader focused strictly on political criticism, accusing the executive branch of having deviated from the promises initially made to the Senegalese people.
When questioned about the recent remarks of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who called for overcoming differences so as not to "tear the country apart" during a tribute to President Abdoulaye Wade, Ousmane Sonko immediately wanted to move beyond the framework of personal tensions.
He stated categorically: “I don’t think there’s any quarrel. Senegal is greater than any political differences we may have. I can assure everyone that there will be no rift. There may be political and programmatic differences, but no rift in the country. So, the debate isn’t about fracturing. The Senegalese people are greater than that.”
Pressed again on the impact of this dismissal and on his potential ambitions for the 2029 presidential election, the former head of government refused to lock himself into a posture of victimization or long-term electoral calculation.
“No, I wouldn’t view it from that perspective,” he clarified, before continuing: “I think that, first of all, this affair now belongs to the political history of Senegal. A politician’s career is a trajectory. And this institutional separation is not the most significant aspect of my political career, in reality.”
Turning to his new legislative responsibilities, he was keen to express his gratitude to the people: “I think that today, I must first thank the Senegalese people for placing their trust in a candidate whom I myself designated, and then for renewing this trust by giving us this overwhelming majority in the National Assembly and, in anticipation, by appointing me to head this prestigious institution. From now on, my energies will be focused on giving this institution the role and place that are rightfully its own.”
He concluded this section by reaffirming his share of responsibility for the outcome of the transition: “Afterwards, I think the executive branch will do what it must do under its constitutional powers. The legislature will do its part in a complementary manner, because we all have this obligation to work towards the success of this mandate, which is in reality our mandate. So, I'm not going to shirk my responsibilities. I was Prime Minister for two years. My record speaks for itself, and I wish the remainder of this mandate every success for the well-being of the Senegalese people.”
When questioned more incisively about his repeated accusations of "betrayal" of the original Pastef project, Ousmane Sonko chose to dismiss the emotional argument to refocus the debate on fidelity to electoral promises.
“You know, the concept of betrayal is much more a matter of morality and emotion. I prefer to focus on a more political dimension,” he clarified. The former Prime Minister then voiced his strongest criticism of the new presidential trajectory: “These are commitments that were made to the Senegalese people during ten years in opposition, and many of them have been completely betrayed by the chosen path. I prefer to focus on that. I believe that today, most of the commitments we made to the Senegalese people—at least some of them—are not being honored, and there is no will to honor them. Beyond that, I'm not operating on an emotional level. I leave betrayal to the realm of morality.”
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