Ousmane sonko challenges president bassirou diomaye faye in touba

At the heart of the “48 hours of Pastef” gatherings in Touba, Ousmane Sonko once again challenged President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The core of his remarks revolved around the ongoing disagreements concerning the administration of the presidency’s “caisse noire.” While defending his party’s financial framework, the Pastef leader emphasized that his political organization, in his view, does not rely on state resources to fund its various activities.

“Pastef is not a party that draws from state coffers to finance its initiatives. This is forbidden, or ‘haram,’ in our principles,” he declared to an assembly of his supporters. This statement clearly references the dispute between the two prominent political figures over the management of the presidential discretionary fund. For several weeks, Ousmane Sonko has voiced strong objections to the very existence of this fund, contending that it contradicts the rigorous transparency standards they championed prior to assuming power.

In Touba, without directly naming the head of state, Sonko implied that these funds could potentially be used to strengthen a political base ahead of future electoral contests. He reiterated Pastef’s commitment to prioritizing membership dues and contributions from its dedicated militants. The Pastef president also took aim at those who have questioned the success of his party’s membership card sales campaign. Labeling certain political figures as “bitter,” he pronounced in Wolof: “s’il n’y a pas de mort, dina am blessé,” an evocative phrase suggesting that Pastef’s growing influence would leave its political adversaries significantly impacted, if not defeated.