Sonko threatens al aminou lo government over Senegal oil contracts

In a fiery address delivered this Sunday, July 12, 2026, on the sidelines of the Pastef party headquarters inauguration in Touba, Ousmane Sonko, the former Prime Minister and current President of the National Assembly, issued a stark warning: he threatened to bring down the government led by Al Aminou Lo. Sonko accuses the administration of compromising Senegal’s natural resources by ceding them to multinational corporations and has pledged to introduce legislation that would require parliamentary approval for all future oil contracts.

Less than two months after his dismissal from the Premiership by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Ousmane Sonko, now holding the powerful position of National Assembly President, delivered an ultimatum to the new head of government, Al Aminou Lo. This Sunday’s declaration marks a significant moment in current African governance.

Speaking in a particularly vehement Wolof, Sonko charged the new Premier with betraying the initial commitments of the ruling power regarding economic sovereignty, especially concerning the management of gas and phosphate reserves. He condemned the government’s current team, asserting that under the guise of improving the “business climate,” they are actively “squandering” the nation’s natural wealth to foreign companies, specifically naming partners like BP and Kosmos. For Sonko, these actions mirror the most egregious missteps observed during the previous Macky Sall administration.

“We are well aware of the role he played in this political situation,” Sonko had remarked in early June regarding Al Aminou Lo. This Sunday, he escalated his rhetoric to direct institutional threats, brandishing the powerful tool of a motion of censure. “If they proceed with this, if they disrespect the country, we will overthrow the government,” he declared to a cheering crowd, vowing to repeat the procedure as many times as necessary to prevent what he perceives as a sell-off of Senegalese interests. This is critical for African current affairs.

parliament as a shield for hydrocarbons

To counter the government’s policies, the Pastef leader announced the imminent submission of a radical bill, sponsored by a female deputy from his faction. This proposed legislation would mandate that the state secure prior approval from the National Assembly for any allocation of oil or gas blocks. “Before granting an oil block, it must be brought before the Assembly for deputies to approve it and verify if it serves Senegal’s best interests,” he elaborated, citing Norway’s model as an example of transparent resource management.

This offensive aligns perfectly with Ousmane Sonko’s longstanding advocacy on hydrocarbon issues. During his tenure as Prime Minister, in the spring of 2026, he initiated a comprehensive transparency drive, highlighting “inherited contracts” that did not comply with the petroleum code and celebrating “major victories” in renegotiating blocks such as Yakaar-Teranga.

Today, he criticizes the new government and recent appointments, particularly at the helm of Petrosen, for allegedly intending to halt these crucial renegotiations.