Political fractures within Senegal’s Pastef party have deepened, revealing a stark divide between its original vision and its current trajectory. Aldiouma Sow, a prominent figure aligned with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, delivered a scathing critique of party leader Ousmane Sonko during a high-profile television appearance on July 6, 2026.
Speaking on TFM, Sow accused Sonko of undergoing a dramatic transformation since assuming power, alleging that his true intentions remained concealed during the opposition years. The political strategist condemned what he described as Sonko’s emerging ‘messianic complex,’ arguing it contradicts the party’s founding principles of collective leadership over personalization of power.
Sow emphasized that Pastef’s grassroots initially rallied behind a shared political project, not a cult of personality. He warned that Sonko’s evolution risked pushing the party into a political deadlock while validating long-standing criticisms from opposition factions. The remarks follow weeks of Sow’s vocal support for President Faye, coupled with escalating attacks on Sonko.
This public rift unfolds amid persistent tensions between Faye and Sonko, the National Assembly president. Faye recently distanced himself from Pastef by launching his own political movement, further straining party unity.