Historic press conference reveals Sonko’s account of dismissal

Ousmane Sonko, leader of the PASTEF movement, took the unprecedented step of addressing the nation directly today, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding his removal from office. In a candid press briefing, he dismantled weeks of speculation with a detailed account of his final exchange with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

According to Sonko, the meeting was initiated by the Head of State at the Palais de la République. The President expressed his belief that their political alliance could no longer continue, citing several of Sonko’s public statements as problematic. Rather than accept the decision passively, Sonko made a bold counterproposal: “I told him he could go ahead and dismiss me—all he had to do was take responsibility for his choice.”

The opposition leader went further, revealing that he had previously offered to step down from the government to lead the National Assembly—while pledging unwavering support for Faye’s administration. This overture, he noted, was ultimately rejected. His tone remained firm as he emphasized his refusal to bear the burden of the separation: “I refused to take the blame for this break.”

What led to the decisive moment?

The confrontation marked the culmination of growing tensions between Sonko’s party and the presidential administration. Public declarations from Sonko, which authorities deemed contentious, reportedly pushed the President to take action. Yet in his account, Sonko framed the dismissal not as a political necessity but as a personal choice by the Head of State.

His statements leave little room for interpretation: the rupture was not mutual but imposed. By demanding the President acknowledge his role in the decision, Sonko shifted the narrative from a routine cabinet reshuffle to a matter of executive accountability.