Politics frequently binds individuals in friendship, yet yesterday’s allies can readily transform into today’s adversaries, particularly when positions of power, their associated prerogatives, and the ambitions they ignite strain trust. The evolving relationship between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko appears to be following this well-worn path. After navigating significant challenges together, the two leaders now find themselves in a dynamic where every move is scrutinized, every statement analyzed, and every decision is weighed against the possibility of a direct confrontation.

The recent convocation of an extraordinary session of the National Assembly unfolds amidst a particularly charged political atmosphere. The parliamentary majority, aligned with Pastef, represents a formidable political force. Its engagement with the executive branch prompts a critical inquiry: to what extent can legislative power assert its influence over the President of the Republic’s policy choices?

Legality versus legitimacy

This is precisely where genuine unease begins to manifest. The boundary between legality and legitimacy can become perilously thin. A parliamentary majority may be entirely within its legal rights to exercise its prerogatives. However, the lawful exercise of power must never inadvertently destabilize the institutional balance.

Even less should it lead to a prolonged state of institutional confrontation within the nation. Senegal does not require another high-level duel. It needs stability, clarity, and institutions robust enough to transcend personal disputes.

Indeed, beyond the unfolding saga of Diomaye and Sonko, it is the very fabric of the Republic that is at stake. The most concerning outcome would be for political competition to ultimately overshadow the national interest.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term. He still has three years remaining to fulfill the mandate entrusted to him by the Senegalese people. This democratic reality should impose a simple principle on all, both the majority and the opposition: one can challenge, criticize, oversee, and even oppose, but without transforming the nation’s institutions into battlegrounds.

Risks of a perpetual political crisis

The events of today must therefore be viewed with gravity. It is not merely about who will prevail in this latest power struggle. Crucially, the nation must avoid descending into a permanent political crisis, where each institution seeks to assert dominance over the others.

Political friendships may wane, alliances may dissolve, and ambitions may clash. Yet, the Republic must stand firm. This is why the urgent priority may no longer be to broker an understanding between two individuals, but rather to safeguard the Republic from divisive quarrels.

Diomaye and Sonko may pursue distinct political paths. They may even engage in a power dynamic. However, their disagreements must never become those of the State, nor should they jeopardize the remaining three years of the elected president’s mandate.

Senegal deserves more than another chapter in the graveyard of political friendships. It deserves legality to remain at the service of popular legitimacy, and for its institutions to prove more resilient than any individual.