Senegal party split deepens as energy minister criticizes pastef leadership

The current political landscape in Senegal has been shaken by sharp internal divisions within the Pastef party, as highlighted by Dr. Abdourahmane Diouf, Minister of Energy and Petroleum and a founding member of the KIIRAAY – Les Patriotes Républicains party. Speaking on a national broadcast, Dr. Diouf delivered a candid assessment of the ongoing tensions between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former leader Ousmane Sonko, framing the conflict as a deliberate betrayal orchestrated by the party itself.

In his remarks, Dr. Diouf condemned what he described as the inconsistencies and double standards within Pastef, particularly accusing the party of isolating the president and rendering his mandate unworkable. « The president has remained steadfast in honoring his commitments, » he asserted. « It is Pastef and its leadership that have chosen to abandon and betray him, stripping him of the tools needed to govern effectively. » He emphasized that President Faye’s decision to act was a response to proven disloyalty, pointing to Ousmane Sonko’s role in undermining the administration.

Addressing former government allies who have publicly criticized the administration, Dr. Diouf urged them to reflect on their own choices. « No one was forced out, » he stated. « They left by their own accord, depriving the president of the parliamentary majority required to implement his policies. This self-inflicted setback has only weakened the government’s ability to deliver on its promises. »

The Energy Minister also weighed in on the future of Senegal’s leadership, advocating strongly for President Faye’s re-election in the next presidential term. This stance, he revealed, was a key factor behind his decision to establish a new political party. He further criticized Pastef’s internal contradictions, noting how party officials often fail to align with their own leader while publicly preaching moral authority.

With the party’s unity in question and public trust eroding, Dr. Diouf’s intervention underscores the deepening rift within Senegal’s political arena, raising concerns about governance and stability in the months ahead.