During a high-energy rally in Louga over the weekend, Ousmane Sonko, leader of the ruling party Pastef Les Patriotes, directly addressed President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on a pressing national issue: the long-overdue scheduling of Senegal’s upcoming local elections.

The National Assembly President was on a nationwide tour promoting his party’s membership card sales when he seized the moment to voice concerns before a packed crowd of activists and supporters. With local governance at stake, Sonko emphasized the government’s responsibility to act swiftly and transparently.

Equal treatment for all decrees

Drawing a sharp comparison, Sonko argued that presidential decrees used to appoint or dismiss officials should be matched by equal urgency in setting an election date. “Removing Fadilou Keïta, Waly Diouf Bodiang, or others is within the president’s powers—that much is clear. But so is issuing a decree to fix the election date. These are all routine decrees,” he stated, as the audience erupted in applause.

No delay, no fear

Sonko has been a vocal opponent of any postponement of the local polls, suggesting that hesitation from the presidency stems from unease over Pastef’s growing momentum. He asserted that President Faye may be wary of the party’s current “energy and mobilization,” which he described as a force capable of reshaping Senegal’s political landscape.

The timing of his remarks—amid preparations for the polls—underlines the urgency of the matter, as civil society and opposition voices grow louder in demanding clarity from the government.