Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef opposition party, unleashed a fresh wave of criticism during a weekend rally in Touba, targeting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. His remarks, described by the ruling coalition as both scandalous and personally motivated, centered on allegations that the president prioritizes political ambition over national interests.

Sonko argued that President Faye’s actions—particularly regarding Senegal’s unsustainable public debt and the absence of an IMF-backed economic program—demonstrate a lack of concern for ordinary citizens. In a pointed statement to his supporters, he declared, “The Senegalese people must know they are not the president’s priority.”

The ruling coalition swiftly condemned Sonko’s remarks, accusing him of undermining national cohesion. In an official statement, the Diomaye Faye coalition defended the president’s efforts to improve living conditions for citizens, while criticizing Sonko for what they termed a “culture of perpetual confrontation.”