Addressing a packed crowd of supporters, the National Assembly President accused former allies of abandoning the reformist vision that once defined their movement. Sonko emphasized that the betrayal wasn’t personal but ideological, citing the erosion of core principles such as transparency, accountability, and judicial independence.

« This isn’t about individuals—it’s about upholding the promises we made to the Senegalese people, » Sonko declared, listing the pillars of their original project to dismantle entrenched corrupt practices.

System reboot: a return to the past

His most damning remarks targeted what he calls the reorganization of the system within the presidential palace. « The very system we fought to dismantle has reinvented itself, » he alleged, pointing to a relapse into pre-reform habits. Sonko argued that the current administration, despite its popular mandate, has become overly reliant on state institutions rather than direct citizen engagement—a hallmark of the practices they vowed to eliminate.

« Today, power resides in institutions, not with the people—the true sovereign in any democracy, » he stated, suggesting that a leadership disconnected from grassroots support may compensate by consolidating control over state apparatuses.

Judicial independence under threat

Sonko further alleged covert efforts to influence Senegal’s highest courts, including the Supreme Court and Constitutional Council. « They’re trying to bend these institutions to their will, » he claimed, framing it as concrete evidence of the system’s reconsolidation six years after the promised political shift.

The speech, delivered in Dahra Djoloff, underscores growing tensions within Senegal’s political landscape as Sonko continues to challenge the direction of President Faye’s government.