Senegal president faye defends democracy amid political tensions

A powerful address delivered in the heart of Dakar’s political life underscored the fragility of Senegal’s democratic fabric. During a national tribute to former President Abdoulaye Wade—who marked his 100th birthday on May 29—President Bassirou Diomaye Faye took the opportunity to reflect on the deepening rift between himself and his former Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko.

With the nation watching, Faye delivered a message that resonated beyond the ceremony: “Democracy is not a booty to be seized and hoarded—it is a flame passed from hand to hand, one that must never be allowed to flicker and fade.”

His remarks came at a sensitive moment. Just two weeks earlier, on May 22, Faye had relieved Sonko of his duties, capping months of escalating tensions between the two former allies who once shared a political vision. The breakup has since plunged the country into a period of uncertainty, with Sonko—now President of the National Assembly—publicly framing the situation as a “cohabitation” and urging the head of state to “step down from his pedestal.”

A call for unity rooted in Wade’s legacy

Faye’s speech was steeped in the wisdom of Abdoulaye Wade, who governed Senegal from 2000 to 2012. Referencing the elder statesman, Faye declared, “You taught us that even the fiercest disputes should never tear apart the nation we share. You showed us that serving our youth is far more valuable than exploiting them.”

The president’s presence at the Grand Théâtre de Dakar was met with enthusiastic applause, particularly when he subtly addressed the nation’s political instability and the end of his partnership with Sonko. His words—”The adversary of today is not an enemy; they are a compatriot who sees the country differently, with whom we must one day continue living peacefully under the same Senegalese roof”—drew sustained cheers from the audience.

In closing, Faye paid tribute to Wade’s unwavering belief in Senegal’s future, even in moments of bitter division: “He never despaired of Senegal, nor of a companion lost in bitterness and hatred.”