The most heated exchange in Tuesday’s press conference came when Ousmane Sonko revealed the behind-the-scenes negotiations that preceded Senegal’s latest cabinet reshuffle. The leader of the Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l’éthique et la fraternité (PASTEF) painted a stark picture of a partnership that had collapsed into irreconcilable differences with the presidency.
Sonko described how, after extensive talks with Bassirou Diomaye Faye, it became clear that the president had “decided to turn his back on PASTEF in favor of other political forces.” This strategic pivot, the party leader argued, directly undermined the principle that “the majority should govern and must choose the Prime Minister.”
Discussions spanned critical issues—public debt, cost of living, contract renegotiations, justice reform, and accountability—yet no consensus emerged on any front. Sonko was unequivocal: “On justice, there is simply no agreement.” The deadlock over judicial matters stood out as one of the deepest rifts between the two sides.
When it came to the cabinet’s composition, Sonko set a non-negotiable condition: PASTEF must hold a majority of the 30 ministerial posts. Yet when the final list was unveiled, that demand went unmet. “At this point, we realized we would have no influence over the government’s actions,” he stated, explaining why PASTEF ultimately chose not to join the administration led by Al Amine Lô.
