Ousmane Sonko seized the platform of Pastef’s 48-hour event in Touba to deliver a sharp critique of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, particularly concerning the contentious management of the ‘caisse noire’ or secret fund. The leader of Pastef emphasized that his party maintains independence from public funding, advocating for an approach firmly rooted in militant contributions.
During the ’48 hours of Pastef’ gathering in Touba, Ousmane Sonko launched another pointed attack on President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, fueled by ongoing disagreements surrounding the administration of the presidential ‘caisse noire’. In defending his party’s financing model, the Pastef leader underscored his political movement’s commitment to avoiding public resources for its activities.
“Pastef is not a party that draws from state coffers to fund its initiatives. That is forbidden for us,” he declared to his supporters. This statement alluded to the persistent dispute between the two leaders regarding the secret presidential fund. For several weeks, Ousmane Sonko has publicly questioned the existence of this fund, arguing that it contravenes the principles of transparency they championed prior to assuming power.
In Touba, without directly naming the head of state, Sonko implied that these funds could potentially be used to consolidate a political base in anticipation of upcoming elections. He reiterated Pastef’s preference for relying on membership fees and contributions from its activists. The President of Pastef also lashed out at critics of his party’s successful membership card sales campaign. Labeling certain political figures as “bitter,” he used the Wolof proverb: “s’il n’y a pas de mort, dina am blessé,” an evocative phrase suggesting that his political adversaries will not emerge unscathed as Pastef continues to gain momentum.
