In a highly charged address delivered this past Sunday in Sadio, Diourbel region, Ousmane Sonko, leader of PASTEF-Les Patriotes, leveled sharp criticism at the current administration’s handling of governance. Speaking before a packed crowd of supporters, the opposition figure scrutinized the political trajectory that led to Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s election as President of Senegal in March 2024—a victory Sonko himself had championed after his own candidacy was barred.
Sonko minced no words, declaring, “He was propelled to the highest office, yet he has strayed far from the project that gave hope to the people—hope that has now vanished.” His remarks underscored a widening rift between the administration’s actions and the original commitments made to the electorate.
Highlighting his pivotal role in the political struggle that culminated in the 2024 shift in power, Sonko asserted that much of the groundwork for that historic transition was laid under his leadership. He framed the upcoming 2026 and 2029 elections as critical milestones for reviving and advancing PASTEF’s foundational political vision, stressing the need to realign governance with the promises that once galvanized voters.
The speech comes amid growing public skepticism about the working relationship between the President and his Prime Minister, though no official response from the presidency has yet emerged.