Former Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko Shares Insights into Fallout with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye

Moments after his dismissal, former Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko provided a detailed account of the exchanges that led to his removal from office. Speaking publicly for the first time since the announcement, Sonko addressed the growing tensions between himself and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye-Diakhar, outlining the events that unfolded in the days and hours leading up to his departure.

In a candid statement, Sonko revealed that the differences between him and the president were not sudden but had been brewing over time. “What we have witnessed in the past two years differs from the vision outlined in our original Project,” he explained. “This is why we had already discussed the possibility of my removal long before it happened.”

Key discussions at the Presidential Palace

Sonko emphasized that despite these underlying disagreements, he chose to remain in his position to avoid disrupting the political process. He recounted a recent meeting at the Presidential Palace, triggered by his address to the National Assembly last Friday. During their conversation, the president reportedly expressed concerns about statements made by Sonko that were causing complications.

“He told me that continuing our collaboration would be difficult due to several of my statements causing issues,” Sonko stated. “I responded that the decision ultimately rested with him.” He further clarified that he made it clear their meeting should not be perceived as a negotiation or attempt to reach a compromise. “I told him we had not discussed any solutions, and it was important not to misrepresent the nature of our exchange,” he added.

Repeated offers to step down

Sonko went on to reveal that he had proposed stepping down from the Prime Minister’s office on three separate occasions, suggesting he could transition to the National Assembly if his continued presence was hindering executive functions. “I told him multiple times: if you feel my presence overshadows your leadership, let’s discuss it, and I will take a seat in the Assembly. We could appoint another Prime Minister from PASTEF,” he explained. According to Sonko, the president declined each of these offers, with Minister Alioune Sall reportedly aware of some of these conversations.

He described the final moments leading to his dismissal, noting that after their meeting, the president requested a short period to reflect before reconvening. “Upon returning home, I received a message informing me of the decision he had made,” Sonko stated. His removal was subsequently announced publicly shortly after.

“I later saw Oumar Samba Ba announce my dismissal,” he concluded, underscoring the swiftness with which the decision was executed.