The popular rallying cry, « Diomaye Moy Sonko » — meaning “Diomaye is Sonko” in Wolof — has definitively lost its resonance. The formidable duo of Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko, who ascended to power in April 2024 on a wave of public discontent against outgoing President Macky Sall, has now dramatically fractured.

Ousmane Sonko was notably prevented from contesting the presidency himself, having been convicted of defamation, which resulted in the loss of his civil rights. He subsequently endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye, likely with the expectation of maintaining significant influence while leading the government as Prime Minister.

Despite a twelve-year alliance within the Pastef party (Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l’éthique et la fraternité), during which they never publicly displayed any discord, the relationship between the two leaders has notably deteriorated over their two years in office, leading to…