The head of Senegal’s National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko, used the inauguration of his party’s new headquarters in Touba to openly criticize President Diomaye Faye, calling him a “puppet leader” who is easily swayed by political maneuvering.
Speaking in front of supporters and party members, Sonko—who played a key role in Faye’s 2024 election victory—delivered a scathing rebuke, warning that the country risks falling under the control of a leader too timid to resist outside influence.
«May God protect us from a weak-willed president. This is a disaster,» he declared. «He is someone who bends to pressure, easily influenced by political newcomers. Even the opposition manipulates him, feeding false narratives that he controls the defense and security forces or can secure a second term.»
Sonko, who once served as Faye’s Secretary-General and coordinator of party cadres, accused the president of secretly plotting to build his own political faction within the ruling party while still in office. «When he became president, he thought he could take control of the majority of party leaders after pushing me aside. But no one followed him,» he remarked, underscoring the rift between the two leaders.
Once a close ally, Sonko’s sharp words signal a deepening divide in Senegal’s political landscape, raising questions about the stability of the ruling coalition and the future direction of the country’s leadership.
