The ongoing rift between the Pastef party and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye continues to dominate political discourse in Sénégal. As some party activists call for the head of state’s removal, Ousmane Sonko has stated that the matter will be resolved “when the time comes” by the movement’s competent bodies.

Speaking on Monday, the National Assembly president emphasised that Pastef is a well-organised and structured party, and any decision must follow its internal rules.

“This will be assessed when the time comes. Pastef is a highly structured, highly organised party. It has very clear texts on the procedures to follow and on the grievances to examine before discussing the exclusion or not of someone. The party is not me. It is the bodies that will evaluate when the time comes,” Sonko said.

The Pastef leader clarified that no such decision is currently on the agenda. “We are not there yet,” he added.

Sonko avoids the term ‘betrayal’

Pressed on accusations of “betrayal” against President Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko refused to use that word, preferring to frame the disagreement in political rather than moral terms.

“The notions of betrayal belong more to morality and emotion. I prefer to stay on political ground,” he explained.

According to him, several commitments made to the Senegalese people have not been honoured, and more concerning, there is no genuine will to implement them.

“I consider today that some of the commitments we made to the Senegalese people are not being respected and that there is no will to respect them. Betrayal, I leave that to the realm of morality,” the former prime minister concluded.

Persistent tensions within the ruling circle

These remarks come amid heightened tensions among different factions within Sénégal’s ruling coalition. For weeks, party officials and activists have accused President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of drifting away from the political project that brought the party to power.

Despite the criticism, Ousmane Sonko is currently relying on the party’s internal mechanisms and ruling out any hasty decision regarding the head of state.