During a high-energy rally in Louga, a key city in northern Senegal, Ousmane Sonko—the prominent leader of the ruling party Pastef Les Patriotes—called on President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to immediately formalize the date for upcoming local elections through an official decree.
The National Assembly President was on a nationwide tour to promote his party’s membership drive when he addressed a packed crowd of loyal supporters. With his characteristic directness, Sonko drew a clear parallel between administrative decrees and the imperative need to set the election timeline.
« Yes, the President holds the authority to appoint or dismiss officials such as Fadilou Keïta or Waly Diouf Bodiang through decrees—no one disputes that. But the same legal instrument must be used to announce the election date. After all, both actions are governed by the same decree framework, »
he stated, as the crowd erupted in cheers. This bold comparison underscores his insistence that the electoral calendar should not be delayed under any pretext.
For weeks, Sonko has been vocal against any postponement of the local elections, warning that hesitation could stem from an unspoken concern within the presidency. He argued that the growing momentum and enthusiasm of the ‘patriots’—as Pastef supporters are known—might be the very reason behind the delay.
« The President may fear the passion and mobilization of our movement, » he asserted, emphasizing that public demand for transparent and timely elections is stronger than ever.
