In a press conference held in Dakar, former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko outlined the reasons behind his party’s decision to decline participation in the newly formed government, announced the previous day by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s administration.

Sonko, leader of the Pastef party, emphasized that fundamental disagreements on policy priorities and ministerial portfolio allocations made collaboration impossible. Key points of contention included judicial reforms, financial transparency initiatives, and renegotiation of critical national contracts.

Policy disagreements and unmet demands

The Pastef party had sought assurances from the president regarding critical economic and governance issues. Sonko stated that responses on debt restructuring negotiations with the IMF were insufficient, describing them as ‘half-hearted’. On domestic economic policies, he noted that the president suggested implementing ‘truth in pricing’ for subsidized goods where possible, while claiming Senegal already possessed ‘the best justice system in the world’.

Sonko also expressed dissatisfaction with the transparency of the new administration’s formation process. Despite five ministers being nominally associated with Pastef, these appointments lacked official recognition from the party, further complicating potential cooperation.

Government formation and future political stance

The Pastef leader made it clear that his party would not accept a junior role in the government. ‘We cannot enter a cabinet where we do not hold at least half of the ministerial positions,’ he stated during the press briefing. While Sonko ruled out initiating a no-confidence motion against the government, he warned that any hostile actions from the administration would be met with a proportional response.