At a tense session of the National Assembly, Maïmouna Sène, former lawmaker and key figure in the Alliance Pour la République (APR), launched a sharp critique against Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. She accused him of resorting to what she termed « judicial populism » as a distraction from the country’s pressing economic challenges.
The veteran politician, who once held a seat in the Assembly, emphasized that while accountability is a legitimate institutional obligation, it should not be weaponized as a political tool to obscure the government’s failure to steer Senegal toward economic recovery. Maïmouna Sène highlighted that citizens are far more concerned with tangible outcomes—such as job creation, inflation control, and economic revival—than with what she described as a misguided « witch hunt » or personal vendettas.
In a fiery address, she challenged Ousmane Sonko to either present concrete evidence in court or cease using legal proceedings as a means of political maneuvering. Her message was clear: the nation expects leadership focused on addressing its economic hardships, not on settling scores or indulging in performative accountability.
« If you have evidence, take it to the courts and let justice unfold without interference. The people of Senegal did not entrust you with the state to dwell on the past, chase ghosts, or settle vendettas. They want inflation curbed, jobs created, and the economy revived. Practice what you preach—start by scrutinizing your own ranks before pointing fingers elsewhere, » she asserted.
Her remarks underscored a growing frustration within political circles over the perceived misuse of judicial processes for political ends, calling for a shift toward actionable governance rather than rhetorical confrontation.
