Ousmane Sonko warns president Faye about national assembly dissolution
Ousmane Sonko, the prominent leader of Pastef, asserts that any electoral contest, regardless of the president’s chosen path, would leave the current administration significantly weakened.
The prospect of dissolving the National Assembly continues to fuel intense debate within Senegal’s political circles. This Saturday, during a party rally held in Linguère, Ousmane Sonko directly addressed President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, cautioning him about the potential electoral repercussions of such a decision.
Sonko, the influential Pastef leader, firmly believes that the ruling power would emerge diminished from any new electoral process. However, he specifically highlighted that the dissolution of the Assembly would inflict the most severe blow to the president’s political standing.
“Should he organize local elections, we will defeat him. If he dissolves the Assembly, that would be even worse for him. And frankly, that is what we prefer, because we would utterly crush him. After such a defeat, I even fear he might resign before 2029,” Ousmane Sonko declared, delivering a direct and unequivocal message to the occupant of the presidential palace. This statement underscores Pastef’s unwavering confidence in its electoral strength, more than a year after assuming power.
A call for vigilance and calm to militants
Beyond his warning to the head of state, Ousmane Sonko also took the opportunity to rally his own supporters. He urged Pastef militants to exercise restraint in the face of what he described as deliberate attempts by political adversaries to destabilize the party.
“I call upon everyone to remain vigilant and calm. They are actively seeking ways to provoke Pastef, hoping that our youth will react, thereby providing an excuse to dissolve the party and revoke its registration,” he cautioned, emphasizing the importance of avoiding any missteps that could be exploited against his political movement.
For Ousmane Sonko, his militants’ ability to withstand these provocations will directly determine the outcome of upcoming elections, which he views with considerable optimism. He confidently predicts that with collective composure, the next ballots—whether local or snap legislative elections—will result in an effortless victory for his camp, which he described in advance as a “simple walk in the park.”
Ousmane Sonko
