In a candid address to the public, Ousmane Sonko, former Prime Minister of Senegal and leader of the Pastef party, has unveiled the behind-the-scenes events that led to his abrupt dismissal from the government. His account provides a rare glimpse into the tensions that unfolded at the highest levels of power.

The turning point, according to Sonko, occurred on Friday, May 25, immediately after his address to the National Assembly. The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, summoned him for a meeting. During their discussion, Faye reportedly expressed his difficulty in continuing their collaboration, citing Sonko’s statements in parliament as a major source of contention.

Ousmane Sonko revealed that he had previously raised the possibility of leaving the executive branch with the President on multiple occasions. “After the legislative elections, I met with him three times, in the presence of witnesses,” he stated. “I made it clear that if my role in the government was hindering his agenda, I could return to the Assembly so our partnership could proceed smoothly. But he consistently refused.”

The former Prime Minister also acknowledged that he had sensed growing tensions within the administration for weeks. “There were clear signals that something was amiss,” he explained. “I brought this up with him directly. Under his supervision at the Prime Minister’s office, our final conversation did not address the terms of our separation. He insisted that I publicly frame our parting as amicable—but I refused to comply.”

Faced with this impasse, Ousmane Sonko proposed two alternatives to the President: either his return to the Assembly to allow the majority to appoint a new Prime Minister, or further negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. Otherwise, he argued that the President should take the decisive step of relieving him of his duties.

According to his account, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had indicated that they would resume discussions after a planned visit to the Archbishop of Dakar as part of Pentecost celebrations. “He told me he would reconnect with me upon his return to continue our talks,” Sonko recalled. “Yet, at 8:35 PM, I received a message informing me of the decision that affected me. I accepted it without protest.”

Moments later, the Secretary-General of the Presidency announced his dismissal. “Within fifteen minutes, I saw the official statement,” Sonko recounted. “I began packing my belongings to return to the Keur Gorgui residence, a place that had always felt like home.”