Sonko accuses Diomaye Faye of straying from PASTEF’s vision in Sadio speech

In a packed gathering in Sadio, located in the Diourbel region, Ousmane Sonko, leader of PASTEF-Les Patriotes, delivered a scathing address this past Sunday, sharply criticizing the governance trajectory of the current administration.

The former presidential candidate and PASTEF chair reiterated how Bassirou Diomaye Faye was propelled to the presidency in March 2024 after his own candidacy was barred from the race. Sonko emphasized his pivotal role in Faye’s rise to power, noting that he had actively championed Faye’s bid when his own path was obstructed.

« He was lifted to the highest office, only to veer off course from the vision we fought for, betraying the hopes of a nation that believed in change,» Sonko declared before a roaring crowd. His remarks underscored a growing disillusionment with the perceived deviation from the movement’s foundational principles.

Highlighting the erosion of the original political manifesto presented to Senegalese voters, Sonko framed the drift as a « lost promise » and urged an urgent return to the commitments made to the people. He stressed that the PASTEF political project had strayed from its core objectives, jeopardizing the very change citizens had rallied behind.

The opposition leader also took pride in his instrumental role in the 2024 political shift that brought Faye to power, asserting that much of the groundwork for that historic transition was laid under his leadership. Looking ahead, Sonko turned his focus to the upcoming electoral milestones in 2026 and 2029, framing them as critical junctures to realign with PASTEF’s transformative agenda.

His statements come amid ongoing speculation about the relationship between the president and the prime minister, though no formal response has yet emerged from the executive branch.