Senegal’s Minister of Communication, Yankhoba Diémé, has sharply criticized former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, accusing him of orchestrating a deliberate campaign of victimization aimed at undermining President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
In an exclusive interview, Diémé dismissed Sonko’s narrative as a calculated attempt to manipulate public perception. “This narcissistic rhetoric and accumulation of misconduct ultimately turns the victim into the perpetrator,” he asserted, warning that such tactics seek to shift blame away from Sonko’s own controversies.
Compensation delays: Diémé absolves President Faye
Addressing delays in compensating former detainees, the minister firmly rejected claims that President Faye was responsible. “Rumors suggesting the president is to blame are unfounded,” he stated. “He issued clear instructions to the Prime Minister and the Family Affairs Minister during a cabinet meeting.”
Diémé also challenged the narrative surrounding former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s salary donation. He emphasized that while Sonko’s gesture of donating his CFA 4 million salary to victims was widely publicized, the state’s role in compensating these individuals remains unaddressed.
Primature’s political funds under scrutiny
The minister highlighted the existence of CFA 1.77 billion in political funds allocated to the Prime Minister’s office. “This amount could have been used to compensate a significant number of victims,” he argued, citing financial simulations to support his claim.
Constitutional revision: a parliamentary trickery?
Criticizing the recent constitutional revision, Diémé condemned what he described as a distortion of President Faye’s call for national dialogue. “The president urged inclusive discussions, but certain political actors engaged in outright parliamentary trickery,” he alleged.
Macky Sall’s presence: President Faye within his rights
Responding to criticism over former President Macky Sall’s freedom of movement in Senegal, Diémé defended President Faye’s actions. “The president is acting within his constitutional mandate,” he explained. “Macky Sall faces no legal accusations or proceedings, and Senegalese law strictly regulates any potential action against former presidents.”
He added, “Young agitators must understand that only lawmakers can initiate high treason proceedings. Accusing without evidence and then presenting oneself as a hero is unacceptable.”
Concluding his remarks, Diémé suggested that if Macky Sall provides necessary clarifications on sensitive issues, President Faye would have no objection to engaging with him in accordance with republican principles.