Alioune Tine, the founder of the Afrikajom Center think tank, has provided a detailed assessment of the current political climate in Sénégal. While he dismissed any rumors of a definitive break between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, he did highlight a significant lack of synergy between the two figures.
A strategic evaluation of political ambitions
According to the civil society leader, the head of the Pastef party made a tactical error by choosing to lead the National Assembly. Alioune Tine believes that since Ousmane Sonko harbors ambitions for the presidency of the Republic, he should have stepped away following his tenure at the Primature. Instead of taking the legislative helm, Tine suggests he should have focused on strengthening his party and allowed the Senegalese people to naturally elevate him to the highest office in 2029.
The role of El Malick Ndiaye in the legislature
The former president of the National Assembly, El Malick Ndiaye, was also a focal point of Tine’s analysis. Tine praised the effectiveness of Ndiaye’s work at the head of the institution. During an appearance on the program Tolouway, he stated that El Malick Ndiaye was an ideal fit for the role and successfully met the expectations of the public.
Tine further argued that taking over the parliamentary institution provides no real added value for Ousmane Sonko, given that the deputies are already aligned with his cause. He maintained that the oversight and direction of the Assembly could have been managed from a distance, which would have permitted El Malick Ndiaye to continue his mission at the head of the body.
