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“We will work towards maintaining the peace and stability of Senegal. The nation just came out of something painful. We can’t easily forget it because it’s not long ago. I know when I arrived, where I found Senegal, in a painful instability even inside homes. The first responsibility should be to reconcile Senegal.”
Senegal’s president Basirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye has denied any "conflict" with his prime minister Ousman Sonko. Addressing a gathering Monday, the populist president who campaigned on pan-Africanist hopes preached stability in the only West African country without history of a military coup.
Days went with rumors of a rift between Faye and his pre-office pal and current prime minister which quaked the subregion. Advocates for change in Africa, West Africa, and Senegal especially, remained jittery as firebrand pan-Africanist Ousman Sonko earlier lamented maneuvers of a shadow gov’t with a griphold on his country’s direction despite a new government since March 2024.
Many, since last week, spoke of a possible wedge between the president and prime minister—Senegal’s siamese politicians and public favorites that campaigned with the mantra, “Sonko is Diomaye; Diomaye is Sonko!”
Prominent Senegalese journalist and veteran broadcaster Ahmed Aidara questioned President Diomaye’s continued silence over the speculation earlier Monday.
The soft-spoken Faye came out hours later, proclaiming that there is no gulf. “We will work towards maintaining the peace and stability of Senegal,” he added.
Faye continued that, “The nation just came out of something painful. We can’t easily forget it because it’s not long ago. I know when I arrived, where I found Senegal, in a painful instability even inside homes. The first responsibility should be to reconcile Senegal,” he stated just hours ago.
He went on, “There are those who say I have some differences with the Prime Minister. No! The prime minister said it, I’m his friend. I don’t have any conflict with him.”
The President further stated, “We will strive to strengthen what the Senegalese people are waiting for. That means focusing on what is going to solve the problems of Senegal. And to this is what I’m calling every Senegalese,” he stated.”
Stalwart journalist Pape Alle Niang, and director of the state broadcaster RTS also addressed the Senegalese people, reminding them of the hope they need to maintain.
Niang was in The Gambia and quite pivotal during the Senegalese struggle to oust Macky Sall’s repressive gov’t as well as free Ousmane Sonko. He often appeared on broadcast platforms. He was later appointed by the new government after the 2024 election.