Former Prime Minister and Pastef party leader Ousmane Sonko has given a detailed account of the circumstances that led to his dismissal from the head of government. In a public statement, he provided his version of events regarding his falling out with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
According to Ousmane Sonko, everything came to a head on Friday, May 25, after his appearance before the National Assembly. “The President of the Republic called me to say he needed to see me. When we met, we talked as usual. At the end of the meeting, he explained that it would be very difficult to continue our collaboration, believing that my statements in the chamber had created many problems,” he said.
The former head of government claims to have repeatedly discussed with the head of state the possibility of leaving the Executive branch. “After the legislative elections, I met with him three times, in the presence of witnesses. I always told him that if my presence in the Executive branch constituted an obstacle to his work, I could return to the National Assembly so that our collaboration could continue under good conditions. But he always categorically refused,” he maintained.
Ousmane Sonko also indicated that he had perceived, for several weeks, signs foreshadowing a crisis at the highest levels of government. “There were signs that problems were brewing. I met with him to discuss them. At the Prime Minister’s office, I was practically under his control. During our last meeting, we did not discuss the terms of our separation. He wanted me to take responsibility for this break and make a statement affirming that we had parted on good terms. I refused,” he explained.
Faced with this situation, the Pastef leader claims to have offered the President of the Republic two options: either his return to the National Assembly to allow the majority to appoint a new Prime Minister, or the continuation of discussions to find a mutually agreeable solution. Failing that, he believed the Head of State should make the decision to dismiss him himself.
According to his account, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had indicated to him that he would resume discussions after a planned visit to the Archbishop of Dakar as part of the Pentecost celebrations. “He told me he would contact me again upon his return to continue our discussions. Finally, at 8:35 p.m., he sent me a message to inform me of the measure that concerned me. I took note of it,” Ousmane Sonko confided.
The former Prime Minister recounted that he discovered the official announcement of his departure by the Secretary General of the Presidency a few minutes later. “Fifteen minutes later, I saw the Secretary General’s statement. I then began packing my bags to return to Keur Gorgui, which I had missed so much,” he concluded.
