During the 48-hour Pastef gathering held in Touba, Ousmane Sonko launched a fresh challenge directed at President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This recent jab underscores growing differences concerning the administration of the presidential “caisse noire.” In defending his party’s financial model, the Pastef leader emphasized that his political formation, according to him, does not rely on state resources to fund its activities.

“Pastef is not a party that draws from state coffers to finance its programs. That is forbidden for us,” he declared to his supporters. This statement alludes to the ongoing dispute between the two leaders regarding the management of the presidential discretionary fund. For several weeks, Ousmane Sonko has openly questioned the existence of this fund, arguing that it is incompatible with the demands for transparency that both he and President Faye championed before their ascent to power.

In Touba, without explicitly naming the Head of State, Sonko hinted that these resources could potentially be used to strengthen a political base ahead of future electoral contests. He reiterated that Pastef, for its part, prioritizes contributions and financial support from its dedicated members. The Pastef president also took aim at those criticizing the success of his party’s membership card sales campaign. Labeling certain political figures as “resentful,” he issued a warning in Wolof: “s’il n’y a pas de mort, dina am blessé,” an evocative phrase implying that his political adversaries will not emerge unscathed in the face of Pastef’s increasing influence.