Ousmane sonko refers diomaye faye’s exclusion from pastef to party bodies amidst Senegal political tensions

The political landscape in Sénégal continues to be shaped by the ongoing dispute between the Pastef party and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Amidst calls from certain party activists for the Head of State’s removal, Ousmane Sonko, a prominent leader within Pastef, indicated that such a matter would be resolved by the movement’s appropriate internal bodies “when the time is right.”

Speaking on Monday, June 15, the President of the National Assembly underscored Pastef’s highly structured and organized nature. He reiterated that any potential decision must strictly adhere to the party’s established regulations.

“This will be assessed at the appropriate moment. Pastef operates as a deeply structured and organized party. It possesses very clear guidelines outlining the procedures to follow and the grievances to examine before any discussion regarding someone’s exclusion. The party is not solely me; it is the designated bodies that will make the determination when the time comes,” Ousmane Sonko affirmed.

The Pastef leader was quick to clarify, however, that no such definitive action is currently under consideration. “We are not at that stage yet,” he added.

sonko avoids ‘betrayal’ label

When pressed on accusations of “betrayal” directed at President Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko explicitly declined to use the term. He expressed a preference for framing the disagreement within a political context rather than a moral one.

“Notions of betrayal tend to fall more within the realm of morality and emotion. I prefer to position myself on political ground,” he elaborated.

In Sonko’s view, several commitments made to the Senegalese populace have not been honored. More concerning, he perceives a lack of genuine intent to fulfill these pledges.

“I contend today that certain commitments we made to the Senegalese people are not being upheld, and there appears to be no will to uphold them. The concept of betrayal, I leave that to the domain of ethics,” concluded the former Prime Minister.

persistent tensions within the government

These statements emerge amidst significant tensions among various factions of the Senegalese government. For several weeks, senior figures and grassroots members of Pastef have criticized President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for allegedly deviating from the political agenda that propelled the party to power.

Despite these criticisms, Ousmane Sonko currently favors utilizing the party’s internal mechanisms, ruling out any hasty decisions concerning the Head of State.