During the “48 hours” Pastef gathering held in Touba, Ousmane Sonko directed fresh criticism towards President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This latest confrontation stems from ongoing disagreements concerning the handling of the presidential “caisse noire.” In defending Pastef’s funding mechanisms, the party’s leader underscored that his political formation, by his account, does not tap into public resources to finance its diverse activities.

“Pastef is not a party that draws from state coffers to fund its initiatives. That is forbidden for us,” he declared before an assembly of militants. This statement clearly alludes to the ongoing dispute between the two prominent figures regarding the management of the presidential discretionary fund. For several weeks, Ousmane Sonko has voiced concerns over the very existence of this fund, arguing that it stands in stark contrast to the principles of transparency they championed prior to assuming power.

In Touba, without directly naming the Head of State, Sonko strongly implied that these resources could potentially be leveraged to solidify a political base in anticipation of upcoming electoral contests. He reiterated Pastef’s commitment to prioritizing membership fees and voluntary contributions from its supporters. The Pastef president also took aim at those who have disparaged the success of his party’s membership card sales drive. Characterizing certain political figures as “bitter” or “resentful,” he delivered a potent message in Wolof: “s’il n’y a pas de mort, dina am blessé” (if there is no death, there will be injuries), an evocative phrase signaling that his political adversaries will not emerge unscathed as Pastef’s influence continues to grow.