In the midst of Senegal’s deepening political crisis, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye delivered a powerful message at a national tribute honoring former president Abdoulaye Wade, who turned 100 on May 29.

Addressing the nation from Dakar’s Grand Theatre, Faye emphasized that intense political disputes should never tear apart the nation they all share. “Democracy is not a trophy to seize and hoard selfishly,” he declared. “It is a flame passed from hand to hand, one that must never be allowed to flicker out.”

This statement came just weeks after Faye removed his former ally and prime minister, Ousmane Sonko, from office on May 22—a move that followed months of escalating disagreements between the two leaders.

Sonko, who leads Senegal’s largest political party and was elected Speaker of the National Assembly on May 26, publicly responded by describing the country’s political climate as a “cohabitation” scenario. “He [Faye] does not hold all the power,” Sonko asserted. “He needs to come down from his pedestal and engage in dialogue.”

Former president’s wisdom guides current leadership

During the tribute to Abdoulaye Wade—who led Senegal from 2000 to 2012—Faye reflected on the late leader’s enduring legacy. “You taught us that no quarrel, no matter how bitter, justifies tearing apart the nation we hold in common,” he said. “You showed us that serving the youth is always more important than exploiting them.”

The president’s words resonated strongly with the audience, drawing applause at multiple moments—especially when he subtly addressed the nation’s political uncertainty and his break with Ousmane Sonko.

Faye also invoked Wade’s philosophy on political rivalry: “The opponent of today is not an enemy. They are a fellow citizen who sees the country differently—and with whom, once the battle is over, we must continue to live peacefully under the same Senegalese roof.”

He praised Wade’s unyielding optimism, even in the face of deep divisions: “He never gave up on Senegal, nor on a companion lost in bitterness and hatred.”