Dakar, July 13, 2026 — Ousmane Sonko, President of Senegal’s National Assembly and leader of the Pastef party, delivered a fiery address on Sunday, July 12, during the inauguration of the party’s headquarters in Touba. In his speech, he issued a stark warning to Prime Minister Al Aminou Lo, threatening to bring down the government unless it prioritizes national interests in upcoming oil and gas contracts.
Sonko, who was removed from the premiership less than two months ago by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, accused the current administration of undermining Senegal’s economic sovereignty. He specifically criticized moves to fast-track contracts with multinational corporations like BP and Kosmos, suggesting these agreements resemble the questionable practices seen under former President Macky Sall’s administration.
In a scathing critique delivered in Wolof, Sonko condemned the government’s alleged betrayal of its initial commitments to transparency and fair resource management. “They are selling off our natural wealth under the guise of improving the business climate,” he declared, drawing parallels to past exploitation of Senegal’s gas and phosphate reserves.
Sonko’s frustration with Al Aminou Lo is long-standing. Earlier in June, he publicly questioned the Prime Minister’s role in the current political landscape. By Sunday, his tone had shifted from criticism to outright institutional confrontation. “If they continue down this path, if they fail to uphold the nation’s interests, we will bring down this government,” he warned, to thunderous applause from the crowd. He vowed to use the Assembly’s censure power repeatedly if necessary to block what he views as the squandering of Senegal’s resources.
Parliament as a shield for hydrocarbons
To counter the government’s approach, Sonko announced plans to introduce a sweeping new bill. This legislation would require the state to submit every future oil or gas block allocation to parliamentary approval before finalization. “No oil block should be awarded without first being debated and approved by elected representatives,” he insisted, citing Norway’s transparent model as an example for Senegal to follow.
The announcement reflects Sonko’s long-standing crusade for hydrocarbon transparency. Even while serving as Prime Minister earlier this year, he spearheaded efforts to renegotiate what he termed “non-compliant inherited contracts,” celebrating significant victories such as the Yakaar-Teranga block renegotiation. Now, he accuses the current government of attempting to stall these reforms, particularly with recent appointments to key positions like Petrosen.
Sonko’s latest salvo underscores a growing divide within the ruling coalition and signals a potential constitutional showdown over economic policy.