Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Alioune Tine, the founding president of the Afrikajom Center, has raised concerns about the emerging political landscape in Senegal, suggesting that the country may be transitioning towards what he terms a “Pastefian State.” His comments were made during a round table organized by the Senegalese Association of Constitutional Law (Asdc).

Tine’s observation comes in the wake of the first appointments by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s administration, which he criticizes as heavily partisan. “From my point of view, after witnessing what we can call an aggressive State, we do not have the impression of having turned the page on the partisan State,” Tine remarked, referencing the dominance of the Pastef party in the new government’s strategic roles.

During his speech, Tine highlighted the political-electoral crisis that preceded the March 24 elections, pointing to the invalidation of key candidates, Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade, as significant events that shaped the current political environment.

He voiced his concern over the perceived shift in power dynamics, attributing it to Sonko’s significant influence within the ruling party. “The inversion at the level of the hierarchy of the ruling party means that we have someone with a legitimacy overload (Ousmane Sonko) who becomes Prime Minister. This will completely decentralize power, and we are seeing it happen. This will create new tensions that must be prevented now.”

Tine also touched on the political debt owed by President Diomaye, describing it as a heavy burden that contributes to the current tensions at the highest levels of government. He recalled the upheavals in February, particularly the rejection of Amadou Ba’s candidacy by former President Macky Sall, which he cited as a moment of significant destabilization.

In his analysis, Tine called for a broader understanding of democracy, emphasizing the importance of recognizing emerging forms of legitimacy beyond electoral victories. “The challenge is to see how we can navigate this new mutation of democracy, and not reduce our democracy to an electoral democracy. There are new legitimacies emerging, which are strong.”

As Senegal navigates this transitional period, Tine’s remarks underscore the need for vigilance and adaptation to prevent potential conflicts and ensure a stable democratic process.

On social media, his comments sparked outrage among Pastef supporters. However, the president of the Afrikajom Center sought to clarify his position: “Young people who do not debate are young people in early retirement. You have to look at the challenges, identify them, and solve them. But to believe that the world is falling apart in the face of the slightest contradiction is appalling,” Alioune stated on X, responding to the criticism.