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Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has warned that the ruling Pastef party risks a total collapse if its supporters do not stay true to the party’s original vision.
In a televised address, Faye emphasised that the party’s broad public support was built on shared ideals rather than individual personal ambitions.
While he acknowledged persistent rumours of a rift with his political ally, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Faye confirmed that Sonko will retain his position as long as he continues to perform his duties effectively.
However, the president asserted his constitutional right to dismiss the Prime Minister if his satisfaction with Sonko’s performance wavers, stating he would always prioritise the nation’s interests.
The political relationship between the two leaders has faced scrutiny since Faye, a former aide to the then-barred candidate Sonko, took office and appointed him prime minister.
Tensions surfaced as early as March when Sonko suggested he might lead the party back into the opposition if Faye deviated from Pastef’s core mission.
This internal political friction coincides with significant economic hurdles, including a frozen $1.8 billion IMF programme following the discovery of misreported debts by the previous administration.
Despite Sonko’s rejection of IMF-proposed debt restructuring and slow progress on new programmes, Faye remains optimistic about the economy’s resilience.
Further complicating Senegal’s outlook are global pressures stemming from the war in Iran, which has driven oil prices far beyond the government’s initial projections.
Faye explained that while the budget was based on oil at $64.5 per barrel, prices reaching $119 per barrel have forced the government to redirect investment funds toward securing petroleum products.
This shift in resources has led to downward revisions of growth forecasts and delays in planned national investments for the current year.
