In a fiery address to thousands of Pastef Les Patriotes supporters at a packed “téra meeting rally” on Saturday, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko issued a blunt ultimatum to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye: realign firmly with the party that brought him to power or watch opportunistic allies hijack the ruling coalition.
Sonko, widely regarded as the ideological architect of the March 2024 electoral upset that ended 12 years of opposition, accused unnamed coalition partners of orchestrating a stealth campaign to “distance President Faye from his political family” and reshape the government away from Pastef’s sovereignist foundations.
“The coalition must remain structured around Pastef as the central pillar,” Sonko thundered. “We have good allies, but others are working night and day to break it. Pastef will not leave this coalition, yet we will not allow adventurers of the 25th hour who emerged from nowhere to build a new bloc around the President.”
The Prime Minister revealed that restructuring of the coalition is already underway under the coordination of senior Pastef figure Aida Mbodj, signaling an imminent purge of disloyal elements. “Diomaye and I knew we would disagree – but we move forward together,” Sonko told cheering crowds in Dakar.
Dismissing weeks of palace gossip about a brewing rift, Sonko reaffirmed the unbreakable bond with his protégé-turned-president. “When I chose Diomaye to replace me as a candidate, I knew differences would arise. When he appointed me Prime Minister, he knew too. But nothing has ever stopped us,” he declared, earning roaring approval.
He urged Faye to shun self-serving newcomers and draw strength directly from Pastef’s militant base. “The President does not need these opportunists to govern. We ask him to get closer to his party, Pastef, and rely on it for the support he needs.”
Turning to the courts, Sonko accused judicial authorities of systematic bias. “Today, the justice system is against us. Insult Sonko – nothing happens. Let our militants respond, and they are arrested within hours,” he charged. “They want to silence those who defend Pastef.”
He called for disciplined communication focused on government achievements rather than street rhetoric.
In a stark message to Pastef officials now tasting power, Sonko drew a red line on embezzlement. “Some comrades tell me, ‘We are in power now, we must have money.’ I tell them: The Senegalese people did not elect us to get rich.”
“If you are a Pastef member in government and you divert public funds to distribute to militants, you will go to prison,” he warned, to sustained applause. “Loyalty is built through contributions and conviction, not by stealing state money.”
With municipal and departmental polls looming, Sonko transformed the rally into a mobilization drive. “Register to vote – every seat counts,” he urged. “These elections will determine whether Pastef consolidates power from Dakar to the remotest village.”
As the crowd chanted “Sonko! Diomaye! Pastef!”, the Prime Minister’s speech left little doubt: eight months into their historic mandate, Senegal’s most powerful duo is closing ranks, ready to crush both external schemers and internal greed to protect their revolution.
Political analysts say the public dressing-down of coalition partners marks the opening salvo in a high-stakes reshuffle that could redefine the young administration before its first anniversary.
