During a Saturday gathering in Bambey, Ousmane Sonko, leader of the PASTEF party, urged his supporters to remain vigilant against potential provocations targeting the movement. He emphasized that these actions may not only affect the party but also aim to destabilize the nation as a whole.
Sonko warned that certain provocations could be directed at him personally, with the intention of triggering reactions from his followers and sparking unrest. « They will resort to all kinds of provocations, some of which will target me directly,» he stated. « They may attempt to misuse state institutions against me,» he added, highlighting concerns over political interference.
The PASTEF president explained that some actors believe undermining his leadership is the key to weakening the party and destabilizing Senegal. « Their strategy hinges on the idea that attacking me will shake PASTEF’s base and plunge the country into turmoil,» he asserted.
In his speech, Sonko also criticized what he described as restrictions on party activities, particularly the suspension of membership card distribution ceremonies. Despite these challenges, he reassured the public that Senegal would not revert to the recent era of heightened tensions. « This country will not relive the dark days it has just endured as long as I am here,» he declared, dismissing the effectiveness of such manipulations.
His remarks come at a pivotal moment in Senegal’s political landscape, marked by the formation of a new ruling party led by Bassirou Diomaye Faye and ongoing discussions about the future of the country’s political forces.