Ousmane Sonko, president of Senegal’s National Assembly and former prime minister, secured a decisive re-election as leader of his party, Pastef, on Saturday. The victory quickly turned into a stern warning directed at his political rivals amid the country’s ongoing political turmoil.
Delegates from national branches and the diaspora gathered in Diamniadio, on the outskirts of Dakar, for the party’s inaugural congress.
Sonko, who has led Pastef since its founding in 2014, was reelected for a new six-year term.
“I fully grasp the weight of this responsibility, because Pastef is no ordinary party in Senegal’s political landscape,” he declared from the podium after his election.
“Revolutions can be diverted, absorbed, or emptied of their substance if they lack a clear doctrine or an organisation capable of ensuring lasting change. That is why this congress is historic, two years after we acceded to the highest responsibilities,” he added.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye won the presidency in 2024 with Pastef’s backing, after Sonko was barred from the presidential race.
Following months of tensions, Faye dismissed Sonko from the post of prime minister on 22 May. Sonko was elected speaker of the National Assembly just days later.
Addressing Pastef delegates, Sonko warned against efforts to “sabotage” the party’s political project.
“No attempt to sabotage this revolution will succeed because the people, standing alongside Pastef, will provide the necessary guarantees for us to finally liberate our country,” he cautioned.
Pastef’s leadership boycotted the government appointed by Faye on Monday, even though some party members appeared on the new ministerial list.
With 130 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly, Pastef can file a motion of no confidence at any time to topple the government. Faye, in turn, can form a new government after a censure and will be able to dissolve the National Assembly from November 2026.
