Sonko issues stark warning to Senegal government over oil deal transparency

Dakar, July 13, 2026 — In a fiery address delivered Sunday during the inauguration of his Pastef party’s headquarters in Touba, Ousmane Sonko, President of Senegal’s National Assembly, issued a bold challenge to Prime Minister Al Aminou Lo’s government. Sonko threatened to use legislative tools to oust the administration if it continues to compromise the nation’s economic sovereignty through opaque oil and gas contracts.

Sonko escalates pressure on Al Aminou Lo’s administration

Less than two months after being dismissed from his post as Prime Minister by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko has shifted his focus to the Assembly, where he now holds significant influence. In a Sunday speech delivered in Wolof, he accused the Prime Minister and his team of betraying the initial commitments of the administration, particularly regarding the management of gas and phosphate resources. Sonko alleged that the government, under the guise of improving the « business climate », is effectively « selling off » the country’s natural wealth to multinational corporations, including British Petroleum (BP) and Kosmos Energy—firms he claims were favored during the previous administration under former President Macky Sall.

Sonko’s rhetoric echoed his earlier June remarks, where he had sharply criticized Al Aminou Lo’s role in the political landscape. This time, however, he escalated the confrontation by resorting to institutional measures. « We know exactly what he’s doing. If they persist in disregarding the interests of this nation, they will face a motion of censure », Sonko declared to a cheering crowd. He vowed to introduce such motions repeatedly until the government aligns its policies with national interests.

Legislative push to rein in oil and gas deals

To counter what he describes as the government’s reckless handling of hydrocarbon contracts, Sonko announced plans to table a groundbreaking bill. The proposed legislation would require all future oil and gas block allocations to receive prior approval from the National Assembly before any agreements are finalized. « No oil or gas block should be awarded without first being presented to the Assembly. Deputies must scrutinize these deals to ensure they truly serve the people of Senegal », he stated, pointing to Norway’s transparent model as an example for Senegal to emulate.

Sonko’s stance is rooted in his long-standing crusade for transparency in the energy sector. As Prime Minister earlier this year, he spearheaded a comprehensive review of existing contracts, exposing what he termed « inherited agreements » that violated the petroleum code. He hailed successes in renegotiating contracts such as the Yakaar-Teranga gas field. Now, however, he accuses the current government and recent appointments—including key figures at the state-owned oil company Petrosen—of attempting to halt these renegotiations.

His latest move signals a deepening rift between Sonko and the administration he once served under, raising questions about the stability of the government’s economic policies and its commitment to ending what critics describe as decades of exploitation by foreign entities.