Ousmane Sonko, former Prime Minister of Senegal and leader of the PASTEF-Les Patriotes party, has provided his account of the events leading to his removal from office. In a public statement, he recounted a pivotal conversation with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye that, according to him, sealed his fate as head of government.
Key meeting follows parliamentary address
Sonko described May 25 as the turning point in his tenure. He revealed that he was summoned by the President shortly after delivering a speech in the National Assembly. The former premier stated that the Head of State expressed concerns about the growing tensions sparked by certain remarks made during his parliamentary address.
The discussion, as Sonko narrated, unfolded in a familiar setting but concluded with the inevitable mention of ending their collaboration at the helm of the government.
Premature exit proposal
The opposition leader maintained that he had previously raised the possibility of stepping down from the Executive after the legislative elections. He claimed to have presented the President with two options: either return to his parliamentary duties to allow for the appointment of a new Prime Minister, or engage in further negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable political resolution.
Yet, Sonko asserted that the President had consistently dismissed this proposition up until their final meeting.
Signs of strain in the executive
Sonko pointed to weeks of mounting friction between the two leaders before his dismissal. He noted that he had repeatedly flagged these concerns to the President during their encounters, though no concrete talks were held regarding the terms of their separation during their last discussion.
He also rejected attempts to frame his departure as a smooth, consensual transition in official communications.
Sudden dismissal
According to Sonko, the President indicated plans to resume talks after a planned visit to the Archbishop of Dakar during Pentecost celebrations. However, the former Prime Minister claimed he received a message later that evening informing him of the decision against him.
Within minutes, the official announcement from the Secretary-General of the Presidency confirmed his removal from the government.
A new political chapter
Sonko’s return to the National Assembly marks the beginning of a fresh phase in his political journey. This development also signals a significant shift in the relationship between the former Prime Minister and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, whose partnership had driven Senegal’s political transition.
His account offers a firsthand perspective amid ongoing scrutiny of the evolving power dynamics within Senegal’s leadership.
