The political rivalry between Prime Minister Al Aminou Lo and his predecessor, Ousmane Sonko, appears to have reached a critical new stage. Hours after the Pastef leader’s press briefing in Touba, where he sharply criticized government policies and announced plans to support a series of censure motions in the National Assembly, the head of government opted to respond via a message posted on the social media platform X.

Without explicitly naming Ousmane Sonko, Al Aminou Lo published a statement widely interpreted as a direct rebuttal to the former Prime Minister’s assertions. “To attempt to monopolize patriotism for a single faction is, precisely, to betray it,” the Prime Minister wrote. This public reaction follows remarks made by Ousmane Sonko at the inauguration of Pastef’s headquarters in Touba. Addressing his party’s supporters, the former government chief claimed he had been informed of statements allegedly made by Al Aminou Lo during a confidential meeting.

“I have received intelligence suggesting that Al Aminou Lo stated, during a private discussion, that his primary focus is now the improvement of the business climate. This indicates a desire to address the expectations of Western investors and economic partners,” Ousmane Sonko declared. The Pastef president argued that this strategic direction amounted to a form of “sabotage” of the political agenda he champions. He then announced his intention to initiate a series of censure motions targeting the government led by Al Aminou Lo, aiming, he stated, to obstruct its ongoing actions.