The political friction between Prime Minister Al Aminou Lo and his predecessor, Ousmane Sonko, appears to have reached a critical point in Senegalese politics. Only hours after the Pastef leader’s press briefing in Touba, where he sharply denounced the government’s actions and announced plans to back several motions of censure in the National Assembly, the head of government chose to issue a rebuttal via a post on the social media platform X.

Without directly mentioning Ousmane Sonko by name, Al Aminou Lo published a message widely interpreted as a direct retort to the former Prime Minister’s statements. “To seek to make patriotism the exclusive domain of a single faction is, precisely, to betray it.” This strong reaction follows remarks made by Ousmane Sonko at the inauguration of Pastef’s headquarters in Touba. Addressing party activists, the former government leader claimed to have received intelligence regarding statements allegedly made by Al Aminou Lo during a private meeting.

“According to information I have been given, Al Aminou Lo reportedly stated, during a confidential meeting, that his priority is now the improvement of the business climate. This signifies a desire to meet the expectations of Western investors and economic partners,” Ousmane Sonko asserted. The Pastef president characterized this policy direction as a form of “sabotage” to the political agenda he champions. He subsequently announced the tabling of multiple motions of censure targeting the government led by Al Aminou Lo, aiming, he stated, to obstruct its operations and influence the direction of African economy today.