Political tensions have escalated following the recent dismissal of Ousmane Sonko from his position as Prime Minister. In a detailed statement, the former government chief reveals the circumstances surrounding his removal and the unexpected demand made by the head of state.

According to Sonko, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye asked him to publicly frame the separation as a mutual agreement. The former Prime Minister strongly rejected this suggestion, asserting that the decision was made unilaterally without prior discussion.

« He wanted me to state that we parted ways by mutual agreement, but I refused because we hadn’t even discussed it. He made his decision alone, » Sonko explained in a candid interview about the hours following his dismissal.

Sonko claimed he had requested a 24 to 48-hour window to organize the practical aspects of the transition. However, he alleges that the presidency proceeded immediately with the announcement, bypassing any consultation on the political messaging surrounding the split.

An acknowledged but contested separation

The former Prime Minister described his departure as a « liberation » that did not affect him politically, despite the dramatic circumstances. He emphasized that from the start of their collaboration, a key principle guided his actions: never to initiate a break.

After the announcement of his dismissal, Sonko stated he returned home the same day, followed by days of silence between the involved parties. The situation took another turn when he learned about consultations initiated by the presidency with outgoing ministers from the Pasteur party.

Sonko advised these ministers not to respond to the summons, insisting that all discussions should go through official party channels. This stance reportedly deepened the rift between the different factions within the government.

The standoff lasted several days before an attempt was made to restore dialogue. Sonko proposed a meeting involving several political figures, including Birame Souleye Diop, El Malick Ndiaye, Alioune Sall, and Daouda Ngom. However, this initiative ultimately failed to materialize.

Subsequent discussions with the new Prime Minister, Al Aminou Lo, did not address the former Prime Minister’s concerns regarding justice, accountability, and public debt management—issues he believed warranted serious consideration.