The inauguration of the Pastef party headquarters in Touba, some 194 kilometers east of Dakar, became the stage for sharp political criticism as Ousmane Sonko, President of Senegal’s National Assembly, delivered a scathing assessment of the nation’s leadership.
Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef party and a prominent figure in Senegalese politics, used the event to renew his condemnation of President Diomaye Faye, whom he accused of being a ‘puppet president’ susceptible to manipulation by political opportunists.
In front of supporters and party members, Sonko declared, ‘May God protect us from a fearful president. This is a disaster. He is someone who is easily swayed. He allows himself to be influenced by last-minute political figures. Even the opposition manipulates him by making him believe he controls the defense and security forces and could secure a second term.’
Sonko, who had previously backed Faye’s 2024 presidential bid, admitted that hindsight revealed Faye’s hidden agenda. ‘With the benefit of distance, I realize he was working behind the scenes to build his own party within the party,’ Sonko stated. He further alleged that Faye’s efforts intensified during his tenure as Secretary-General and Coordinator of Party Cadre. ‘Once he became president, he thought he could do as he pleased and believed he could reclaim the majority of party members after sidelining me. Unfortunately for him, no one followed,’ Sonko added.