The ongoing political discourse in Sénégal continues to be shaped by the evolving tensions between the Pastef party and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. While some within the ruling party advocate for the Head of State’s expulsion, Ousmane Sonko has clarified that this matter will be decided “when the time is right” by the movement’s designated bodies.
Speaking on Monday, June 15, the President of the National Assembly underscored Pastef’s structured and organized nature, reiterating that any potential decision must adhere strictly to the party’s internal regulations.
“This will be assessed when the moment comes. Pastef is a highly structured, very organized party. It possesses very clear guidelines regarding the procedures to follow and the grievances to examine before discussing anyone’s exclusion or non-exclusion. The party is not me. It is the party’s internal bodies that will make that assessment in due course,” Ousmane Sonko affirmed.
The Pastef leader, however, made it clear that no such decision is currently under consideration. “We are not at that stage yet,” he added.
Sonko refrains from using the term “betrayal”
When pressed on accusations of “betrayal” directed at President Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko chose not to employ the term, preferring to address the disagreement from a political standpoint rather than a moral one.
“Notions of betrayal lean more towards morality and emotion. I prefer to position myself on political ground,” he elaborated.
According to Sonko, several commitments made to the Senegalese populace have not been honored, and more concerningly, he perceives a lack of genuine intent to fulfill them.
“I believe today that some of the commitments we made to the Senegalese people are not being upheld, and there is no will to uphold them. I leave the concept of betrayal to the realm of morality,” concluded the former Prime Minister.
Persistent tensions within the government
These statements emerge amidst significant friction among various factions within the Senegalese government. For several weeks, senior members and activists of Pastef have accused President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of drifting away from the political agenda that propelled the party to power.
Despite these criticisms, Ousmane Sonko is, for now, prioritizing the party’s internal mechanisms and ruling out any hasty decisions concerning the Head of State.
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