In a sweeping statement posted on his Facebook page, Aldiouma Sow, a leading figure in the Bureau politique national (BPN) of Pastef les Patriotes, has come out strongly in defense of party members who accepted an invitation from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This move comes as political tensions between the head of state and his former Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, continue to send shockwaves through Senegal’s political landscape.
Dialogue as a core conviction, not a tactical move
Sow underscored that the ongoing political dialogue initiated by President Faye is far from a fleeting strategy—it’s a deeply rooted principle, one that traces back to his earlier call for national dialogue in May 2025. “For him, dialogue isn’t a variable to be adjusted based on circumstances,” Sow emphasized. He further highlighted that the President has devoted “days on end to dialogue, despite no constitutional, ethical, or moral obligation to do so.”
Denouncing rumors of a secret pact at Cap Manuel
The BPN member seized the moment to debunk persistent rumors suggesting that a clandestine agreement was struck at Cap Manuel prison prior to President Faye’s release. “Candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye never entered into any secret pact during his time at Cap Manuel,” Sow declared firmly, directly countering Ousmane Sonko’s recent assertions. Instead, he alleged that it was within the prison’s walls that certain other candidates allegedly swore, “with a hand on the Quran,” to hand over power to Sonko upon assuming office. Sow’s rebuttal comes just one day after Sonko’s public remarks on the matter.
Warning against a destructive messianic drift in the party
Sow went on to critique what he described as a “destructive messianism” gripping Pastef, a trend he claims has endangered the party’s survival since 2022. He pointed to the legislative elections of that year, where long-standing party cadres were sidelined in favor of last-minute allies, and to the subsequent local elections. “The same pattern will repeat in upcoming legislative and local polls—and it will spell the political demise of Pastef’s grassroots,” he warned, urging coordinators to “reject this messianic dictate.”
A message of resilience to party dissidents
Addressing ministers who have remained steadfast in their government roles despite party pressure, Sow delivered a resolute message: “Take pride in your decision. While you may face exclusion from WhatsApp and Telegram groups, or suspension from national party bodies, no one can ever strip you of your commitment to the patriotic cause.”
Wrapping up, he extended an olive branch to the undecided, urging them to reconsider their alignment with Sonko’s divisive trajectory before it’s too late: “To those brothers and sisters, cadres, and deputies who may still be swayed by this destructive messianism, there’s still time to change course—you have nothing to lose.”