Ousmane Sonko exposes the true reasons behind his dismissal in Senegal

Ousmane Sonko, leader of the PASTEF party, has broken his silence in a candid press briefing, shedding light on the real reasons behind his abrupt removal from office. Speaking to reporters in Dakar, he revealed the exact sequence of events that led to his dismissal by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, putting an end to weeks of speculation about the political rift.

The former government official began by outlining the circumstances of his meeting with the President, which he described as both abrupt and decisive. According to Sonko, President Faye summoned him to the Presidential Palace and directly communicated his decision to end their political partnership. « He stated that he believed our collaboration could no longer continue », Sonko recounted, adding that the President cited several of his public statements as problematic grounds for the split.

Faced with this unexpected ultimatum, Sonko chose not to retreat. Instead, he responded with a bold stance: « I made it easy for him by agreeing to step down. I even asked if he intended to dismiss me—if so, he should simply take responsibility and do it. » His words underscored a refusal to accept blame for the separation, shifting the narrative entirely onto the President’s shoulders.

Beyond the immediate fallout, Sonko disclosed an earlier, unfulfilled proposal he had made to the President. He revealed that at a prior stage, he had suggested leaving the government to instead lead the National Assembly, while pledging his continued support for the administration’s agenda. This offer, however, was never acted upon, leaving the door open for the eventual confrontation.

The political leader’s remarks were unequivocal in their message: this rupture was never his choice. By framing the dismissal as an unavoidable consequence of the President’s decisions, Sonko positioned himself as the aggrieved party, distancing himself from any responsibility for the split.