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Following his departure from the government and the formation of a new cabinet without representatives from his PASTEF party, opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has broken his silence in a press conference that laid bare growing tensions with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Addressing journalists, Sonko did not mince his words as he criticized the head of state, though he insisted these differences did not signal a personal rift between the two men.
He highlighted a persistent breakdown in communication with the President, stating: “The President has refused to engage in dialogue with me while engaging with others.”
Reflecting on their once-close political alliance, Sonko emphasized the shared vision that had united their camps. “We have always stood on the same side,” he declared, underlining the depth of their former collaboration.
Despite the visible strains, he clarified that their interactions had never escalated into open confrontation. “We have never exchanged harsh words face to face,” he reassured.
With a tone balancing reproach and constructive intent, Sonko distanced his party from being perceived as adversaries to the President. “We are not opponents of President Diomaye. The real adversaries are soaring food prices, transportation woes, and the everyday struggles of Senegalese citizens,” he argued. He suggested that external forces were attempting to exploit the current divisions within the executive branch.
The remarks come at a pivotal moment as Dakar navigates a government overhaul, leaving observers to speculate about the future of relations between Sonko, PASTEF, and the administration of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
