Aldiouma Sow criticizes Ousmane Sonko’s leadership style

Senegal’s political landscape remains turbulent as internal divisions within the Pastef party deepen. During a live television appearance on TFM this past July 6, 2026, prominent political figure Aldiouma Sow launched a scathing critique of party leader Ousmane Sonko, accusing him of abandoning the movement’s foundational principles.

Sow, who has recently aligned himself with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, argued that Sonko’s behavior has fundamentally shifted since the party’s rise to power. What was once presented as a united front against the establishment has, in Sow’s view, morphed into a cult of personality under Sonko’s leadership—a so-called messianic tendency that contradicts the collective spirit that originally defined Pastef.

According to Sow, party members joined Pastef not to elevate a single individual, but to champion a shared vision of governance. He contends that Sonko’s recent actions betray this commitment, pushing the party into a political deadlock. Sow also suggested that these developments validate long-standing criticisms leveled by the opposition against the ruling party.

This public rebuke is the latest in a series of statements where Sow has distanced himself from Sonko while publicly endorsing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. His remarks come at a time of escalating tensions between the head of state and the Assembly President, further straining the party’s cohesion.

Sonko’s alleged transformation has sparked intense debate within Senegal’s political circles. Critics argue that his leadership style undermines the democratic values the party once championed, while supporters contend that his vision is necessary to drive meaningful change in the country.