Ousmane Sonko addresses calls for Diomaye Faye’s exclusion from Pastef
In Senegal, President Diomaye Faye faces mounting criticism from within his political party, Pastef, with accusations that he has deviated from the core principles that originally brought him to power. Amid escalating demands for his exclusion from the party, Ousmane Sonko recently commented on the situation, stating that it would be “evaluated at the appropriate time,” emphasizing that any decisions would be made without haste.
Sonko elaborated on Pastef’s internal structure and commitment to due process. “This matter will be considered when the time is right,” he affirmed. “I believe the Pastef party is exceptionally well-structured and organized. It possesses clear foundational texts that detail the precise procedures to follow and the specific grievances that must be presented before any discussion of a member’s potential exclusion can occur. The party itself will undertake this assessment. The party is not merely me; it is the collective bodies and established instances that will make this determination at the opportune moment.” He added that the party has “not yet reached that stage” of formal proceedings.
When pressed by a journalist on whether he considered President Faye to have “betrayed” Pastef’s political vision, Sonko deliberately avoided using the term. He explained his preference for a more political discourse, stating, “Concepts of betrayal often lean heavily into moral and emotional domains. I choose to operate on a more political plane. I prefer to place the focus at that level. I currently hold the view that many of the commitments we made to the Senegalese populace, or at least a significant portion of them, are not being upheld, and there appears to be a lack of genuine willingness to see them through. Beyond that, I do not engage on emotional grounds. I reserve the notion of betrayal for moral considerations,” Sonko concluded, underscoring his focus on the political dimensions of governance in Africa and the accountability inherent in African politics.
Sonko elaborated on Pastef’s internal structure and commitment to due process. “This matter will be considered when the time is right,” he affirmed. “I believe the Pastef party is exceptionally well-structured and organized. It possesses clear foundational texts that detail the precise procedures to follow and the specific grievances that must be presented before any discussion of a member’s potential exclusion can occur. The party itself will undertake this assessment. The party is not merely me; it is the collective bodies and established instances that will make this determination at the opportune moment.” He added that the party has “not yet reached that stage” of formal proceedings.
When pressed by a journalist on whether he considered President Faye to have “betrayed” Pastef’s political vision, Sonko deliberately avoided using the term. He explained his preference for a more political discourse, stating, “Concepts of betrayal often lean heavily into moral and emotional domains. I choose to operate on a more political plane. I prefer to place the focus at that level. I currently hold the view that many of the commitments we made to the Senegalese populace, or at least a significant portion of them, are not being upheld, and there appears to be a lack of genuine willingness to see them through. Beyond that, I do not engage on emotional grounds. I reserve the notion of betrayal for moral considerations,” Sonko concluded, underscoring his focus on the political dimensions of governance in Africa and the accountability inherent in African politics.
