In a charged political moment for Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye used a national tribute on June 4 to honor the legacy of former President Abdoulaye Wade—who marked his 100th birthday on May 29—while subtly addressing the deepening rift with his former prime minister, Ousmane Sonko.

“No disagreement, no matter how sharp, justifies tearing apart the nation we all share,” the Senegalese leader declared. “Democracy is not a spoil to be seized and hoarded, but a flame passed from hand to hand—one we must never allow to flicker out.”

Faye’s remarks came just two weeks after he removed Sonko from office on May 22, ending a partnership that once defined their political rise. The move capped months of growing tensions between the former allies.

“Today’s opponent is not tomorrow’s enemy”

Speaking at Dakar’s Grand Theatre during the Wade centenary event, Faye invoked the late leader’s wisdom: “Abdoulaye Wade taught us that even the fiercest disputes must never destroy the country we call home. He showed us that serving our youth is far greater than using them as tools.”

Sonko, now President of the National Assembly, had publicly framed his relationship with Faye as a “cohabitation” just days earlier. “He doesn’t hold all the power,” Sonko stated in a press briefing. “It’s time he steps down from his pedestal and we engage in dialogue.”

At the ceremony, Faye was met with sustained applause—especially when he alluded to the nation’s political uncertainty and his split from Sonko. “Wade taught us that today’s opponent is not tomorrow’s enemy,” Faye said. “They are a fellow citizen with a different vision—one with whom we must ultimately share the same Senegalese home in peace once the battle is over. Opposition need not mean destruction.”

Closing his remarks, Faye praised Wade’s unwavering faith in Senegal, even in moments of bitter division: “He never despaired of this nation, nor of a companion lost to bitterness or hatred.”