In a scathing critique during the unveiling of the Pastef party’s headquarters in Touba, Ousmane Sonko, President of Senegal’s National Assembly, took aim at President Diomaye Faye. The event, held 194 kilometers east of Dakar, provided Sonko with a platform to publicly denounce the head of state for what he described as a dangerous pattern of vulnerability to external influence.

«We cannot afford a timid president who bends to every pressure,» Sonko declared. «This is a catastrophe. He is easily swayed by political opportunists and even the opposition manipulates him by feeding false narratives about his control over security forces and the possibility of securing a second term.»

Sonko’s remarks underscored deepening tensions within Senegal’s political landscape, as he traced the origins of his current disillusionment back to the 2024 presidential election. Though he had originally backed Faye’s candidacy, he now claims to have uncovered evidence of clandestine maneuvering during Faye’s tenure as Secretary-General and coordinator of party cadres. «He was quietly building his own faction within the party,» Sonko alleged. «After assuming the presidency, he believed he could reclaim the majority of cadres by cutting ties with me. But reality proved otherwise—no one followed him.»

The public rebuke, delivered in a tone of frustration rather than surprise, highlights the fractures within Senegal’s ruling coalition and raises questions about the stability of Faye’s administration. Sonko’s outspoken criticism signals that the alliance between the two leaders, once seen as a unifying force, may be unraveling beyond repair.