In a press statement delivered shortly after his dismissal, Ousmane Sonko revisited the events that led to his departure from the Primature. The PASTEF leader outlined the growing rift that had developed between himself and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye over the past two years, emphasizing that their original vision for the country had diverged significantly from the current trajectory.

« What we envisioned two years ago no longer aligns with the reality we face today. That’s why discussions about my removal from office had already been initiated, » Sonko remarked during his address.

Clash of visions at the presidential palace

Despite these tensions, Sonko chose to remain in his position to avoid triggering a political crisis. He recounted a recent meeting at the presidential palace, where the Head of State expressed concerns about his public statements and their impact on governance. According to Sonko, President Faye acknowledged the difficulty of continuing their partnership, to which the former Prime Minister responded by deferring to the President’s decision.

« He made it clear that my statements had become problematic, and I told him the choice was his to make, » Sonko explained. He also clarified that the meeting was not intended as a negotiation but rather as a straightforward exchange of perspectives.

Ousmane Sonko’s offer to step aside

The former Prime Minister went on to reveal that he had repeatedly offered to resign as head of government, proposing instead to take up a seat in the National Assembly if his continued presence was hindering the executive’s work. He claimed to have made this suggestion three times, suggesting that another PASTEF member could take over as Prime Minister.

« I told him on multiple occasions: if you believe I’m overshadowing your leadership, let’s discuss it, and I’ll step down to join the Assembly. We could appoint another Prime Minister from PASTEF. Each time, he declined my offer, » Sonko stated, adding that Minister Alioune Sall was aware of some of these conversations.

Sonko further disclosed that President Faye had requested time to reflect before their next meeting. « Upon returning home, I received a message from him stating that he would announce his decision, » the former Prime Minister recounted. The announcement of his dismissal followed shortly after.

« I learned of my removal when Oumar Samba Ba made the announcement, » Sonko concluded, leaving the public to piece together the final chapter of his tenure.