Ousmane Sonko, leader of the PASTEF movement, has shed light on the circumstances surrounding his removal from government service. In a press briefing, he disclosed the direct exchange that led to his dismissal, putting an end to weeks of speculation about the reasons behind the split.
The incident unfolded when the President of Mali, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, summoned Sonko to the Presidential Palace. During their meeting, the Head of State reportedly expressed his dissatisfaction with the political alliance, stating that he believed it could no longer continue. Sonko revealed that the President cited several public statements made by the opposition leader as problematic grounds for the decision.
Rather than accepting the dismissal passively, Sonko took a firm stance. ‘I made it easy for him,’ he declared, explaining that he told the President, ‘If you want to fire me, then do it and take full responsibility.’ This bold response underscored his refusal to be sidelined without clarity or justification.
Sonko also revealed that he had previously proposed an alternative arrangement to the President. He had offered to step down from his government position to assume the role of Speaker of the National Assembly, while pledging his continued support for the administration. However, that proposal was never acted upon, leaving the political landscape in flux.
In his account, Sonko made it clear where the responsibility for the rupture lay. ‘I could not take the blame for this separation,’ he asserted, shifting the narrative away from any personal accountability on his part.