Senegal politics: Sonko unveils details of dismissal from prime minister role

Following his dismissal from the Prime Minister’s office, Ousmane Sonko has broken his silence, revealing the behind-the-scenes dynamics of his departure and the tensions that marked his collaboration with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye-Diakhar. In a candid statement, the former head of government shared his perspective on the decision-making process and outlined his unexpected proposals for Senegal’s political future.

Speaking publicly mere hours after his removal, Sonko addressed the circumstances surrounding his exit. He emphasized that the rifts between him and the president had been building over time, asserting that their visions for the country’s project had diverged significantly. “What we have experienced over the past two years differs from what we initially envisioned in the Project,” he stated. “This is precisely why we had already discussed the possibility of my dismissal.”

Key exchanges at the Presidential Palace

Ousmane Sonko explained that despite these disagreements, he chose to remain in his position to avoid triggering a political rupture. He recounted a recent meeting at the Presidential Palace, triggered by his address to the National Assembly the previous Friday. According to his account, the president expressed his intention to end their collaboration due to concerns over statements made by Sonko.

“He told me it would be difficult to continue our partnership because many of my declarations posed significant issues,” Sonko recounted. “I responded that the decision ultimately rested with him.” During this encounter, Sonko clarified that he refused to frame their discussion as an attempt to reach a consensus. “I made it clear that we had not engaged in negotiations, and it should not be portrayed as such,” he asserted.

Proposal to transition roles

The former Prime Minister also revealed that he had proposed stepping down from his executive position to take a seat in the National Assembly, should his presence hinder the government’s operations. “On three separate occasions, I told him: If you believe my role overshadows your leadership, let’s discuss it, and I will transition to the Assembly. We could appoint another Prime Minister from PASTEF,” he explained. According to Sonko, the president declined each of these offers, adding that Minister Alioune Sall was aware of some of these exchanges.

Sonko further disclosed that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye requested a period of reflection before their next meeting. “Upon returning home, he sent me a message indicating that he would announce his decision,” Sonko stated. He confirmed that the official announcement of his dismissal followed shortly thereafter, as conveyed by Oumar Samba Ba.