Ousmane Sonko swears by God: the Cap Manuel protocol was real

In a dramatic press conference this week, Senegal’s former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko made a bombshell claim. He revealed that he and President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye had secretly agreed to a political protocol before the 2024 elections—while Sonko was still behind bars at the Cap Manuel prison.

Sonko, the leader of the Pastef party, described the encounter as a defining moment in Senegal’s political trajectory. According to his account, Bassirou Diomaye Faye visited his cell to discuss the future of their movement amid growing uncertainty over the presidential election timeline.

From detention to destiny: the Cap Manuel protocol

The former Prime Minister insisted that their discussions resulted in a binding agreement—one he now refers to as the “protocol of Cap Manuel.” He claimed that he personally rejected proposals to postpone the election and instead endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as the movement’s presidential candidate.

“I had already chosen him,” Sonko declared. “Once we’re free, we’ll campaign, win the election, and govern together. And by 2029, we’ll return to our original plan.”

To reinforce the gravity of his statements, Sonko took an oath in the presence of journalists, swearing on the Quran: “I swear before God and the Holy Book—this protocol was real.”

Reform and trust: the terms of the agreement

According to Sonko, Bassirou Diomaye Faye accepted the terms of this informal pact. The president-elect reportedly framed his mandate as a period of “difficult reforms,” promising to clear the way for Sonko’s return to prominence in 2029.

Sonko also revealed that he had suggested bringing in witnesses to document the agreement—but was told such precautions were unnecessary. “He said he’d think of his own son before betraying me,” Sonko recounted, underscoring the personal trust he said existed between them.

2029 in sight: a pact with a deadline

The conversation, Sonko claims, extended to the future. He stated that he had made it clear to Bassirou Diomaye Faye: if the president-elect honored their deal, he would support his 2029 candidacy. Otherwise, Sonko reserved the right to run himself.

His version of events concludes with Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s unmistakable response: “He told me he would be my campaign director.”

These revelations come at a time of escalating tensions between the two leaders, casting new light on the behind-the-scenes negotiations that shaped Senegal’s 2024 political transition.