During the recent Pastef 48-hour gathering in Touba, Ousmane Sonko delivered pointed remarks directed at President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. His critique primarily focused on the contentious administration of the “caisse noire,” or presidential discretionary fund. The prominent Pastef leader emphasized that his political movement operates independently of public finances, advocating instead for a funding model sustained by member contributions.
The Touba event, marking Pastef’s 48-hour assembly, became the platform for Ousmane Sonko to once again challenge President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This latest contention stems from ongoing disagreements concerning the management of the presidential « caisse noire. » Sonko, while defending his party’s financial practices, underscored that Pastef, in his view, abstains from utilizing state resources for its operational expenses.
Addressing his supporters, Sonko firmly stated, « Pastef is not a political entity that draws from state coffers to fund its initiatives. Such a practice is forbidden for us. » This assertion clearly referenced the ongoing dispute between the two leaders regarding the presidential discretionary fund. For weeks, Ousmane Sonko has openly questioned the existence of this fund, arguing that it contradicts the principles of transparency that both he and Faye championed prior to assuming office.
While in Touba, and without explicitly naming the Head of State, Sonko implied that these public funds could potentially be leveraged to strengthen a political base ahead of future electoral contests. He reiterated Pastef’s commitment to relying exclusively on membership fees and contributions from its activists. The Pastef president also took aim at critics who have questioned the remarkable success of his party’s membership card sales drive. Labeling certain political figures as « embittered, » he conveyed a powerful message in Wolof: « s’il n’y a pas de mort, dina am blessé » (if there is no death, there will be injured), an evocative idiom suggesting that Pastef’s political adversaries will not emerge unscathed from the party’s growing influence.
