Tensions within Senegal’s ruling Pastef party have intensified, exposing deep divisions. During a live appearance on TFM this Monday, July 6, 2026, Aldiouma Sow, a prominent figure aligned with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, sharply criticized Ousmane Sonko, accusing him of undergoing a radical transformation since the party’s rise to power.
Sow argued that Sonko, who once presented himself as a collective leader, has increasingly adopted a messianic approach—a shift Sow claims contradicts the party’s founding principles. According to him, Sonko’s leadership style now reflects a stark departure from the collective vision that initially united Pastef’s supporters.
In his remarks, Sow emphasized that party members had rallied behind a shared political project rather than a cult of personality. He warned that this evolution risks isolating Sonko politically and fueling criticism from opposition figures who have long scrutinized the party’s governance.
Sow’s statements follow weeks of escalating tensions between Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The president recently distanced himself from Pastef by launching his own political movement, further straining party cohesion.
This latest confrontation underscores the growing rift within Senegal’s political landscape, with key figures publicly challenging each other’s interpretations of the party’s original mission.
