Ousmane Sonko escalates criticism against President Faye and Constitutional Council on constitutional reform

Ousmane Sonko seized the opportunity during his recent tour through the Baol region to significantly intensify his criticism of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Convening this Sunday in Touba, where he inaugurated the Pastef-Touba headquarters before addressing a conference on current political issues, the Pastef leader revisited the Constitutional Council’s decision to invalidate the constitutional revision law, openly challenging its reasoning.

Initially, Ousmane Sonko had advocated for respecting the high court’s ruling, asserting that it was “binding on all.” However, his tone shifted markedly in Touba. He directly confronted the presidential practice of frequently referring matters to the Constitutional Council, stating, “Every week, he will refer matters to the Constitutional Council.” This phrase underscored his perception of the Head of State’s systematic reliance on the Council’s arbitration to circumvent parliamentary action.

Sonko continued his argument by disputing the fundamental logic of the decision itself: “The Constitutional Council cannot dictate that deputies must vote for laws that please the President of the Republic.” This was a direct rebuke of the reasoning put forth by the seven judges, who had based their invalidation on procedural grounds, specifically the absence of compensatory resources for new public charges created by the text and a failure to adhere to the ‘vote bloqué’ procedure. The Pastef leader concluded his intervention with a solemn warning: “What is unfolding in this country is grave.”

These statements from the President of the National Assembly mark a notable change in his communication strategy, which had initially adopted a stance of institutional appeasement following the July 9th decision. They emerge as Pastef’s tour in Baol, presented as a grassroots engagement and territorial strengthening initiative, takes on the character of a political counter-offensive. This move responds to the Presidency’s dynamic recomposition efforts, which have recently involved receiving hundreds of mayors and announcing the imminent creation of its own political party, shaping the African current affairs landscape.