Ousmane sonko makes explosive claims about cap manuel protocol

In a dramatic revelation that has sent shockwaves through Senegalese politics, opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has sworn before God and the Holy Quran that a binding political agreement was struck with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye long before the 2024 elections.

Speaking to journalists today, the founder of the Pastef movement detailed what he described as the “Cap Manuel Protocol”—a secret pact allegedly negotiated while he was imprisoned at the Cap Manuel detention center. The agreement, Sonko claims, outlined a strategic alliance between the two political figures that would shape Senegal’s future governance.

The former Prime Minister recounted how President Faye visited him in his cell during the tense period leading up to the presidential election. According to Sonko, their discussions centered on preventing a potential postponement of the vote and solidifying their movement’s unity.

« There was truly a protocol at Cap Manuel, » Sonko declared emphatically. He stated that he had firmly opposed any delay to the election and insisted that Bassirou Diomaye Faye should lead their coalition to victory. « I told him: I have chosen you, and when we win, we will govern together. In 2029, we will return to the usual order of things, » he recalled.

Sonko’s testimony, delivered with religious solemnity, could not be more explicit: « I swear before God and the Holy Quran that these events occurred exactly as I have described. »

Faye’s acceptance of a reformist mandate

According to Sonko, Bassirou Diomaye Faye not only accepted the proposed political arrangement but also pledged to prioritize sweeping structural reforms during his presidency. The President-elect allegedly framed his upcoming term as a temporary but essential phase dedicated to overhauling the country’s institutions.

« He told me: ‘This mandate will be one of difficult reforms. I will bear the burden myself so that you can have a clear path afterward,’ » Sonko recounted.

The opposition leader also revealed that he had sought to formalize the agreement by involving witnesses, a request that was reportedly declined by Faye. The President-elect allegedly assured Sonko that their bond of trust rendered such precautions unnecessary.

Faye went further, according to Sonko’s account, by invoking personal ties to underscore his commitment. « He said he would think of my son—who shares his name—if he ever betrayed me in politics, » the former Prime Minister stated.

2029 presidential ambitions and unmet expectations

Sonko’s revelations did not stop at the 2024 election. He claimed that the future of their political collaboration was also discussed, with a clear roadmap for the 2029 presidential race. He asserted that he had made it explicitly clear to Faye that his continued support would hinge on the President’s adherence to their pact.

« I told him that if he stayed true to this path, I would back his candidacy in 2029. Otherwise, I would run myself, » Sonko explained. According to his version of events, Faye’s response was unequivocal: « He told me he would be my campaign manager, » the opposition leader concluded.

These explosive claims come at a time of escalating tensions between the two former allies, raising fresh questions about the authenticity of their pre-election agreements and the motivations behind Senegal’s 2024 political transition.