Senegal political tension: ruling camp fires back at Pastef leader Ousmane Sonko

The ruling coalition in Senegal has strongly responded to recent criticisms from Pastef party leader Ousmane Sonko, calling his remarks both scandalous and unbecoming of his position as President of the National Assembly.

During the inauguration of Pastef’s new headquarters in Touba on Sunday evening, Sonko accused President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of prioritizing political ambitions over the welfare of Senegalese citizens. He highlighted concerns about the country’s unsustainable public debt and the absence of a credible agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), urging citizens to recognize that their needs were being neglected. “Senegalese people must understand that their concerns are not President Faye’s priority,” Sonko declared before his supporters.

The presidential camp swiftly dismissed these allegations, emphasizing that Faye remains fully committed to improving living conditions for all Senegalese. In an official statement, the coalition accused Sonko of consistently favoring perpetual confrontation over constructive dialogue, portraying him as an obstructionist figure rather than a solution-driven leader.