Sonko warns Al Aminou Lo government over censorship threats

In a fiery address delivered Sunday, July 12, 2026, during the inauguration of the Pastef headquarters in Touba, former Prime Minister and current National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko issued a stark warning to Al Aminou Lo’s government. Accusing it of surrendering the country’s natural resources to multinational corporations, Sonko vowed to introduce a bill requiring parliamentary approval for all future oil contracts.

Less than two months after being dismissed from the Prime Minister’s office by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko—now presiding over the National Assembly—delivered a scathing ultimatum to Al Aminou Lo, the newly appointed Prime Minister.

In a particularly forceful Wolof speech, Sonko accused the government of betraying the original economic sovereignty commitments, especially regarding gas and phosphate management. He condemned what he described as a government team prioritizing « business climate improvement » at the cost of « selling off » the nation’s resources to multinationals, naming BP and Kosmos as key players. For Sonko, these actions mirror the worst excesses of Macky Sall’s era.

« We know exactly the role he played in this political situation », Sonko declared in early June about Al Aminou Lo. This Sunday, he escalated his rhetoric to direct institutional threats, wielding the weapon of a no-confidence motion. « If they proceed with this, if they disregard the country’s interests, we will topple the government », he declared to thunderous applause, vowing to repeat the process as often as necessary to block what he sees as a sellout of Senegalese interests.

Parliament as a shield for hydrocarbons

To counter the government’s policies, the Pastef leader announced the imminent introduction of a radical bill, spearheaded by one of his party’s deputies. The proposed legislation would mandate that any oil or gas block allocation must receive prior approval from the National Assembly. « Before awarding an oil block, it must first go to the Assembly for approval, ensuring it serves Senegal’s interests », he explained, citing Norway’s transparency model as an example.

This offensive aligns with Sonko’s long-standing crusade on hydrocarbons. While still Prime Minister in spring 2026, he launched a sweeping truth campaign, exposing « inherited contracts » that violated petroleum codes and hailing « major victories » in renegotiating blocks like Yakaar-Teranga.

Today, he accuses the new government and recent appointments—particularly at Petrosen—of attempting to halt these renegotiations.