Ousmane sonko confirms cap manuel protocol with bassirou diomaye faye
Ousmane Sonko confirms cap manuel protocol with Bassirou Diomaye Faye
Ousmane Sonko, Senegal’s former Prime Minister, has publicly sworn that a binding political agreement was struck with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye before the 2024 elections—despite being imprisoned at the time. The revelation sheds new light on the behind-the-scenes negotiations that shaped the country’s political landscape ahead of a pivotal vote.
In a press conference held this week, Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef movement, disclosed details of what he described as the “Cap Manuel Protocol”—a clandestine political pact negotiated during his detention at the Cap Manuel prison. The agreement, he claims, outlined a shared vision for their party’s future, including support for Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s presidential bid in 2024 and a strategic handover in 2029.
Sonko recounted that the discussions unfolded in his prison cell, where Bassirou Diomaye Faye visited to discuss the movement’s direction amid growing concerns over a possible postponement of the presidential election. According to Sonko, he firmly rejected any delay and insisted that Faye should lead the party to victory.
“I told him: I’ve chosen you. If we’re released, we’ll campaign together, win the election, and govern. In 2029, the baton will be passed back to me,” Sonko stated. To underscore the gravity of his claims, he invoked a religious oath, declaring, “I swear on my life, God, and the Holy Quran that this protocol is real.”
Faye’s commitment to structural reforms
Sonko further alleged that Bassirou Diomaye Faye accepted the terms, framing his presidency as a transitional phase dedicated to sweeping reforms. “He told me, ‘This mandate is for difficult reforms. I’ll take responsibility for them, and then you’ll have a clear path ahead,’” Sonko relayed.
He also revealed that he had proposed involving witnesses to formalize the agreement, but Faye declined, citing their mutual trust. Sonko quoted Faye as saying he would consider his own son—who bears the same name—as a guarantee against political betrayal.
2029 presidential ambitions and unspoken tensions
The 2024 election was not the only topic discussed. Sonko claimed he had made it clear that their continued collaboration hinged on Faye’s adherence to the pact. “I told him that if he stayed true to this path, I would endorse his candidacy in 2029. Otherwise, I would run myself,” he said. According to Sonko, Faye’s response was unequivocal: “He said he’d be my campaign manager.”
The disclosures come at a time of escalating tensions between the two former allies, reigniting debates about the legitimacy of the agreements that preceded Senegal’s 2024 political transition. Observers are now questioning whether these private negotiations influenced the country’s democratic trajectory.