In a sharp exchange broadcast on national television, the Saint-Louis coordinator for Senegal’s Pastef party, Modou Mbène Guèye, fired back at former deputy Abba Mbaye after the latter criticized the political strategies of Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Abba Mbaye had drawn a direct comparison between the alleged tactics used by Sonko to secure a parliamentary majority and what he claimed was now being replicated by President Faye in his own coalition-building efforts. « He sacrificed every ally to build his majority. That’s exactly what President Diomaye Faye is doing with Kiiraay, » Mbaye stated during the televised debate.
Modou Mbène Guèye quickly dismissed these remarks as politically shortsighted. In a scathing response, he accused Abba Mbaye of lacking political integrity, asserting that the former deputy had never supported the election of President Faye or Prime Minister Sonko, despite previously criticizing them. « He has no principles, no convictions—only ingratitude defines him, » Guèye declared, pointing to past statements from Abba Mbaye that he deemed contradictory.
The Saint-Louis leader highlighted Abba Mbaye’s 2022 election under the Yewwi Askan Wi banner, where he claimed leadership of Taxawu Sénégal. Guèye recalled that shortly after his victory, Mbaye had declared he owed nothing to anyone—a stance Guèye found inconsistent with earlier remarks during the legislative campaign, when Mbaye allegedly accused Ousmane Sonko of obstructing his path to the mayor’s office.
He also took issue with Mbaye’s past comments about the late socialist leader Ousmane Tanor Dieng, as well as his earlier stances during the formation of Senegal’s 14th legislature. The confrontation underscored deepening divisions within the political landscape, particularly in Saint-Louis, where loyalty to Pastef remains strong.
Modou Mbène Guèye reaffirmed that Saint-Louis would stand by Pastef, regardless of any political realignments or potential benefits Abba Mbaye might seek by aligning with the ruling camp. He emphasized ongoing efforts to strengthen the party’s grassroots presence, noting that over 3,750 membership cards had already been distributed in the commune, with a second phase of renewals set to launch on August 8.
