The gathering of Pastef members in Touba provided the platform for Ousmane Sonko to once again challenge President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, highlighting significant disagreements concerning the handling of the presidency’s “caisse noire.” While articulating Pastef’s funding philosophy, the party’s head emphasized that their political activities are, in his view, financed without reliance on public funds.

Addressing his supporters, Sonko asserted, “Pastef is not a party that draws from state coffers to fund its programs. Such practices are forbidden for us.” This statement clearly referenced the ongoing dispute between the two leaders regarding the presidential discretionary fund. For weeks, Ousmane Sonko has voiced strong objections to the fund’s very existence, arguing it contradicts the transparency principles they championed prior to assuming power and is a critical point in African governance.

Though he refrained from directly naming the head of state during his address in Touba, Sonko strongly implied that these public resources might be utilized to strengthen a political base ahead of future electoral contests. He reiterated Pastef’s commitment to funding through member dues and contributions. The Pastef president also took aim at critics questioning the success of his party’s membership card drive. Labeling some political figures as “bitter,” he delivered a striking message in Wolof: “If there is no death, there will be injuries,” an evocative phrase suggesting that political adversaries will not emerge unscathed as Pastef’s influence continues to grow.