In a candid address, Ousmane Sonko, former Prime Minister and leader of the Pastef party, has laid bare the events leading to his abrupt removal from office. Speaking publicly for the first time since his dismissal, he shared intimate details of his final conversations with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the tensions that fractured their working relationship.
a friday meeting that sealed his fate
The turning point came on Friday, May 25, immediately after Sonko’s appearance at the National Assembly. According to his account, President Faye summoned him for what initially seemed like a routine meeting. “The President told me he needed to speak with me,” Sonko recalled. “During our discussion, he expressed his concerns about my recent statements in Parliament, stating that they had caused considerable difficulties and complicated the government’s agenda.”
repeated offers to step aside
Sonko went on to reveal that he had, on multiple occasions, broached the idea of resigning from his role as Prime Minister. “Following the legislative elections, I met with the President three times, always in the presence of witnesses,” he explained. “I made it clear that if my position was hindering his leadership, I was prepared to return to the National Assembly and allow the majority to appoint a new Prime Minister. But he consistently refused, insisting that I remain in office.”
signs of an impending rupture
The former head of government admitted that he had sensed growing friction within the administration for weeks. “There were warning signs that something was amiss,” he said. “I even discussed these concerns with the President. At the Prime Minister’s office, I was essentially under his direct supervision. During our last conversation, he did not address the terms of our separation. Instead, he asked me to issue a statement claiming we had parted ways amicably. I refused to comply.”
two paths forward — and a final ultimatum
Faced with mounting pressure, Sonko said he presented the President with two alternatives: either his return to the National Assembly to facilitate the appointment of a new Prime Minister, or continued negotiations to reach a mutually agreeable solution. If neither option materialized, he insisted, the President would need to formally relieve him of his duties. “I made it clear that if no resolution was found, the decision was his to make,” Sonko stated.
a last-minute announcement
According to Sonko, President Faye had indicated they would resume discussions after a planned visit to the Archbishop of Dakar for Pentecost celebrations. “He told me he would contact me upon his return to finalize our agreement,” Sonko recounted. “Instead, at exactly 8:35 PM, I received a message informing me of my dismissal. I accepted the decision and began preparing to leave the Keur Gorgui residence—home for so long.” Minutes later, the official announcement was made by the Secretary-General of the Presidency, leaving Sonko to reflect on the abrupt end to his tenure.