Senegal politics: minister counters Sonko’s claims, backs President Faye

Minister Yankhoba Diémé has publicly refuted Ousmane Sonko’s allegations of victimization against President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, while defending the current administration’s handling of several contentious issues. Speaking in a candid interview, Diémé dismissed Sonko’s tactics as a deliberate effort to manipulate public perception and shift blame onto the presidency.

Indemnification delays: clearing the president’s name

The minister addressed ongoing delays in compensating former detainees, rejecting claims that President Faye was responsible for the holdups. “The president issued clear directives during a cabinet meeting,” Diémé stated, emphasizing that the executive had followed proper procedures. He also questioned the narrative surrounding Ousmane Sonko’s salary donation, arguing that the former prime minister’s gesture did not absolve the state of its obligations to victims.

Political funds controversy and parliamentary maneuvering

Diémé raised eyebrows by revealing that the Prime Minister’s Office held 1.77 billion CFA francs in political funds—funds that could have expedited victim compensation. “The National Assembly only disclosed this amount recently,” he noted, suggesting that such resources could have resolved financial constraints in the indemnification process.

The minister also criticized what he described as parliamentary trickery during the recent constitutional review. He accused certain political actors of distorting the spirit of the national dialogue initiated by President Faye, undermining the process through deceptive maneuvers.

Macky Sall’s presence and legal immunity

On the issue of former President Macky Sall’s freedom of movement in Senegal, Diémé defended the current president’s stance. “Bassirou Diomaye Faye is acting within his constitutional mandate,” he asserted, adding that no legal proceedings had been initiated against Sall. The minister reminded critics that only deputies can file high treason charges against an ex-president, stressing that unfounded accusations were both legally and ethically indefensible.

In closing, Diémé left the door open for future engagement between the two presidents, stating that “clarifications from Macky Sall on certain matters would pave the way for respectful exchanges in line with republican values.”