During his recent tour across the Baol region, Ousmane Sonko significantly sharpened his criticism directed at President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Convening this past Sunday in Touba, where he inaugurated the Pastef-Touba headquarters before leading a discussion on current political challenges, the Pastef leader revisited the Constitutional Council’s decision to invalidate the constitutional revision law, openly disputing its rationale.
Initially, the National Assembly President had urged respect for the high court’s ruling, emphasizing that it “applies to everyone.” However, in Touba, he adopted a different tone. He directly challenged the presidential practice of repeatedly referring matters to the Constitutional Council, stating, “Every week, he goes to the Constitutional Council.” This phrase underscored his perception of the Head of State’s systematic reliance on the Council’s arbitration to circumvent parliamentary initiatives.
Ousmane Sonko elaborated on his argument by questioning the very foundation of the Council’s verdict: “The Constitutional Council cannot dictate that deputies must pass laws favored by the President of the Republic.” This was a direct assault on the reasoning employed by the seven judges, who had based their invalidation on procedural grounds, specifically citing the absence of compensatory resources for new public expenditures mandated by the text and a failure to adhere to the blocked vote procedure. The Pastef leader concluded his address with a solemn warning: “What is unfolding in this nation is grave.”
These remarks from the National Assembly President signal a significant shift from his earlier communication strategy, which had initially projected institutional appeasement following the July 9 decision. They coincide with Pastef’s Baol tour, originally framed as a local engagement and territorial strengthening initiative, now appearing to evolve into a political counter-offensive. This comes amidst the Presidency’s own recomposition efforts, which have seen hundreds of mayors received in recent days and the imminent announcement of its own political party.