The political rivalry between Prime Minister Al Aminou Lo and his predecessor, Ousmane Sonko, appears to have reached a new flashpoint. Just hours after the Pastef leader’s conference in Touba, where he sharply criticized the government’s performance and announced his support for a series of no-confidence votes in the National Assembly, the head of government chose to issue a response via a message posted on the social media platform X.

Without explicitly naming Ousmane Sonko, Al Aminou Lo’s message was widely understood as a direct rejoinder to the former Prime Minister’s remarks. “To claim patriotism as the sole preserve of one faction is, precisely, to betray it,” Lo posted. This reaction emerged after Sonko’s pronouncements at the inauguration of Pastef’s headquarters in Touba. Addressing his party militants, the former head of government asserted that he had been made aware of statements allegedly made by Al Aminou Lo during a private meeting.

“According to intelligence I received, Al Aminou Lo purportedly stated during a confidential gathering that his primary focus is now enhancing the business environment. This indicates a desire to meet the expectations of Western investors and economic partners,” Ousmane Sonko revealed. The Pastef president argued that such an orientation would amount to a “sabotage” of the political agenda he champions. He subsequently announced his intention to table a series of censure motions targeting the government led by Al Aminou Lo, aiming, he stated, to obstruct its policies.