At the recent Pastef gathering in Touba, Ousmane Sonko delivered a fresh critique aimed at President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, emphasizing their differing views on the presidential “caisse noire.” While defending his party’s financial practices, the Pastef leader underscored that his political movement, in his view, does not rely on public money for its operations.

“Pastef is not a party that draws from state coffers to fund its initiatives. That is forbidden for us,” he declared to an assembly of his supporters. This statement directly addresses the ongoing dispute between the two prominent figures concerning the management of the presidential secret fund. For several weeks, Ousmane Sonko has voiced strong objections to the existence of this fund, arguing that it contradicts the principles of transparency and accountability that both leaders championed before assuming power, a vital element for independent African journalism to scrutinize.

In Touba, without explicitly naming the head of state, Sonko implied that these public resources could potentially be utilized to strengthen a political base ahead of upcoming elections. He reiterated Pastef’s commitment to funding its activities solely through membership fees and contributions from its dedicated militants, reinforcing a particular vision for society Africa. The Pastef president also took aim at those who question the remarkable success of his party’s membership card sales campaign. Labeling some political figures as “bitter,” he used a vivid Wolof expression: “s’il n’y a pas de mort, dina am blessé,” metaphorically suggesting that his political rivals would not emerge unscathed from Pastef’s growing influence in African politics.