Sénégal: the faye-sonko alliance transforms into a political rivalry

Sénégal finds itself embroiled in a significant political upheaval. On Friday, July 3, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye made a pivotal announcement: his intention to establish his own political party. This decision sharply escalates the burgeoning confrontation with Ousmane Sonko, his former mentor and now the influential President of the National Assembly.

Observers suggest that both prominent figures are actively working to solidify their individual political stature, a trajectory that appears to be setting the stage for a direct electoral contest in the 2029 presidential elections. Maurice Soudieck Dione, an esteemed associate professor of political science at Gaston-Bergé University in Saint-Louis, offered his expert insights on these unfolding developments in the West African nation.

Maurice Soudieck Dione, professeur agrégé de sciences politiques à l’université Gaston-Berger de Saint-Louis, au Sénégal.