The founder of the Afrikajom Center think tank, Alioune Tine, shared his perspective on Senegal’s political landscape. He dismissed the notion of a rift between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, but highlighted a lack of alignment between them.
In his view, the Pastef leader made a strategic mistake by pursuing the position of National Assembly president. Alioune Tine believes that with presidential ambitions for 2029, Sonko should have stepped back after leaving the prime minister’s office, focused on managing his party, and allowed Senegalese voters to naturally elevate him to the highest office.
The civil society figure also praised former National Assembly president El Malick Ndiaye, commending the work he was doing at the head of the legislature. During a television program appearance, Alioune Tine stated that El Malick Ndiaye was perfectly suited for the role and met public expectations.
According to him, the top parliamentary position offers no additional advantage to Ousmane Sonko, since the deputies are already aligned with him. Oversight and leadership of the Assembly could have been exercised remotely, allowing El Malick Ndiaye to continue his mandate.