Political funds dispute between Senegal’s pm and president

In a rare public display of internal executive tensions, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has openly highlighted a fundamental disagreement with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye over the regulation of political funds—a reform central to their party’s electoral platform. Speaking before lawmakers, Sonko emphasized that the parliamentary initiative to legislate on this issue originated from Deputy Guy Marius Sagna, a move he personally did not endorse in its current form.

Sonko argued that such a critical policy matter should be spearheaded by the executive branch rather than the National Assembly. He revealed that he had already flagged this concern to the President, stressing the urgency of government intervention in this matter. However, President Faye’s response was cautious, requesting additional time to assess the reform’s feasibility without committing to a specific timeline.

This delay has prompted Sonko to issue a firm warning: if the President continues to postpone a decision, he will not hesitate to advance the proposal directly to the Council of Ministers for approval. This development not only underscores the ongoing power dynamics between Senegal’s two top leaders but also raises questions about the cohesion of their governance approach.