The ongoing discussion surrounding a potential dissolution of Senegal’s National Assembly continues to dominate the nation’s political landscape. This past Saturday, during a party rally held in Linguère, Ousmane Sonko directly challenged President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on this contentious issue, cautioning him about the considerable electoral consequences such a move could entail.

According to the Pastef leader, any electoral path chosen by the head of state would inevitably result in a diminished standing for the current government after a new vote. Yet, Sonko specifically highlighted that the scenario of dissolving the Assembly would, in his estimation, prove to be the most detrimental outcome for the President.

“If he opts for local elections, we will emerge victorious. But if he dissolves the Assembly, the repercussions for him will be even more severe. In fact, that is precisely the outcome we prefer. We are confident we will overwhelmingly defeat him. And following that, I even anticipate he might withdraw from the race before 2029,” Ousmane Sonko asserted, delivering a direct and unambiguous message to the presidential office holder. This declaration underscores a profound confidence in Pastef’s electoral strength, which the party believes remains robust, even more than a year after assuming governmental power.

A call for vigilance and calm among militants

Beyond his firm warning to the President, Ousmane Sonko also took the opportunity to address his own supporters. He urged Pastef activists to exercise prudence and maintain composure in the face of what he characterized as deliberate attempts by political rivals to destabilize the movement.

“I implore everyone to remain vigilant and calm. There are concerted efforts to provoke Pastef, hoping our youth will react, thereby providing a pretext to dissolve the party and revoke its official recognition,” he cautioned, emphasizing the critical need to avoid any missteps that could, in his view, be weaponized against his political organization.

For Ousmane Sonko, the collective ability of his militants to withstand these provocations will be a direct determinant of the results in forthcoming elections, which he anticipates with pronounced optimism. He posited that, should a collective calm prevail, the upcoming polls—be they local contests or early legislative elections—would culminate in an effortless triumph for his faction, which he confidently described as a “simple walk in the park.”