Ousmane Sonko reveals cap manuel protocol with president Bassirou Diomaye Faye
In a dramatic revelation, Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has disclosed the existence of a secret political agreement with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, forged during his imprisonment before the 2024 elections. The “Cap Manuel protocol”, as Sonko describes it, has sent shockwaves through Senegal’s political landscape, raising questions about the true nature of their alliance.
From prison cell to presidential pact
Ousmane Sonko, briefly Senegal’s Prime Minister and now a leading opposition figure, claims he and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye entered into a binding political understanding while Sonko was detained at Cap Manuel prison. The discussions, he asserts, took place under intense pressure as elections approached amid threats of postponement.
Sonko’s account paints a dramatic scene: he recounts receiving Bassirou Diomaye Faye in his prison cell to finalize their political blueprint. “I swear before God and the Holy Quran, the Cap Manuel protocol is real,” he declared, lending his testimony an air of solemnity.
He describes rejecting any notion of delaying the vote, instead pledging full support for Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s presidential candidacy. “I told him: I have chosen you. If we win, we campaign together, govern together, and in 2029, we’ll return to our original plan,” Sonko explained.
Reforms and future elections
According to Sonko, Bassirou Diomaye Faye accepted the arrangement, framing his presidency as a temporary phase focused on sweeping reforms. “He told me this mandate would be one of difficult reforms. He would take the burden, and then I would have a clear path ahead,” Sonko recounted.
The opposition leader also claims he proposed involving witnesses to formally document their agreement, a suggestion Bassirou Diomaye Faye reportedly dismissed, citing their mutual trust. Sonko shared what he described as Faye’s reassuring words: “Think of your son, who shares my name. If I ever betray you politically, remember him.”
Looking further ahead, Sonko states that the 2029 presidential election was also part of their discussions. He claims to have told Bassirou Diomaye Faye that their continued collaboration would depend on his adherence to their pact. “I told him if he followed through, I would back his 2029 candidacy. Otherwise, I would run myself,” Sonko asserted.
He further alleges that Bassirou Diomaye Faye responded without hesitation: “He told me he would be my campaign manager.”
Political fallout and growing tensions
These explosive claims come at a time of escalating tensions between the two former allies, who together spearheaded Senegal’s political shift in 2024. Sonko’s revelation has reignited debates about the authenticity and implications of their pre-election commitments, casting new light on the forces that shaped Senegal’s recent political transformation.
