Senegal ousmane sonko warns political rivals after party victory

The leader of Senegal’s National Assembly and former Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, has secured a resounding re-election as head of his party, Pastef, in a decisive political move that serves as a clear warning to his rivals amid the nation’s ongoing political turmoil.

Delegates from across Senegal and its diaspora gathered in Diamniadio, just outside the capital city of Dakar, for the first-ever national congress of the party.

Re-elected for another six-year term as leader of Pastef, which he founded in 2014, Sonko emphasized the significance of his new mandate in his address to the assembly.

a historic congress amid political uncertainty

“I fully understand the magnitude of this responsibility, as Pastef is no ordinary party in Senegal’s political landscape,” he declared from the podium after his victory.

“Revolutions risk being hijacked, diluted, or stripped of their essence when they lack a clear ideology or an organization capable of translating change into lasting impact. That is why this congress is historic, coming just two years after our rise to the highest levels of government.”

His remarks followed a period of intense political maneuvering in Senegal. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who became President in 2024 with strong backing from Pastef, initially removed Sonko from the prime minister’s office on May 22. Days later, Sonko was elected to lead the National Assembly.

warning against sabotage of the political project

Sonko used the platform to firmly reject any attempts to undermine the party’s vision, stating that such efforts would ultimately fail.

“No attempt to sabotage this revolution will succeed because the people, standing united with Pastef, will provide the necessary safeguards to finally liberate our nation,” he declared.

The party leadership chose to boycott the government formed by President Faye despite the inclusion of some Pastef members in the new cabinet. This stance underscores the depth of the rift within the party.

With a commanding majority of 130 out of 165 seats in the National Assembly, Pastef holds substantial power—including the ability to file a no-confidence motion at any time to oust the government. Meanwhile, President Faye retains the option to reshuffle his cabinet if a vote of no confidence passes and may dissolve the Assembly as early as November 2026.