Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Senegal’s new leadership is facing an internal rift barely four months after assuming office, as ideological differences between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko surface over the primacy of the State versus the ruling party, PASTEF.

The heart of the disagreement lies in their contrasting visions: while President Faye seeks to rise “above the fray” by promoting institutional independence and distancing himself from party control, Sonko insists that PASTEF, which fought its way to power, must remain central in the governance of the state.

What Diomaye and Sonko Earlier Said

To better understand the differences in approach between Senegal’s two top leaders, one must look back to the joint press conference held on the eve of the presidential election.

Even then, it was clear from Sonko’s remarks that he had at times considered taking retaliatory action if they came to power—an idea Diomaye consistently rejected.

It was Sonko himself who recounted the episode: “Because Diomaye doesn’t speak much, some people were afraid of him,” he said, not without irony. “But I want to reassure them—Diomaye is actually far less harsh.”

To support his point, Sonko recalled a conversation that took place in a meeting between himself, Birame Souleye Diop, and Diomaye. “At the time, the repression was brutal. I told them, ‘If we ever take power, these people are going to regret it.’ But Diomaye said, ‘No, President, we have to let that go. There will be no witch hunts. No revenge.’”

Sonko said he brought the issue up again while they were both in prison—this time to test whether Diomaye’s stance had changed.

According to Sonko, it had not. “He told me, ‘Never, President. We must not make the same mistakes as our predecessors. If we come to power, we must let justice do its job. We cannot be in power looking to settle scores.’ I wanted to share this as a testimony,” Sonko explained.

At the time, Sonko appeared to align with his protégé’s position, stating that there would be no revenge.

But now in power, it is Sonko who appears to be putting pressure on the justice system to speed up accountability processes.

When judicial decisions favor his side, he often remains silent, but when rulings go against his camp, he is quick to speak out—sometimes going as far as questioning the authority of the judiciary or criticizing perceived inaction.

Diomaye’s Institutional Vision

Faye, elected president on March 24, 2024, quickly resigned from his executive role in PASTEF just two days later, signaling a clear intention to separate state leadership from party politics.

In his April 3 address to the nation, he emphasized his commitment to impartial governance and called for inclusive national consultations on justice and political reforms.

His position echoed long-standing demands from Senegalese civil society, including the 2012 National Assises and subsequent institutional reform proposals led by Amadou Makhtar Mbow.

His alignment with these democratic ideals, including endorsing the National Assises Charter during the presidential campaign, has earned him praise across the political spectrum.

Faye has made a deliberate effort to steer clear of interference in judicial processes—except for one occasion when he came to the defense of Justice Minister Aissata Tall Sall amid criticism from within PASTEF about delays in accountability.

In public, he has consistently advocated for a modern, rights-respecting state based on separation of powers.

Sonko’s Party-Centric Approach

In stark contrast, Prime Minister Sonko has taken an assertive stance, advocating for the continued centrality of PASTEF in governance. Despite Faye’s detachment from the party’s executive leadership, Sonko remains its president and openly rejects the idea of separating the party from the state.

“There’s no anomaly in the idea of an ‘Etat-Parti Pastef,’” Sonko declared recently, insisting that those who brought the party to power must be entrusted with implementing its agenda. “The administration is an instrument. It is the party in power that must dictate the direction of state policy,” he said.

Sonko believes sidelining the party risks repeating the mistakes of previous regimes where leaders alienated their political bases.

For him, ministers, civil servants, and diplomats must align with the party’s vision, and he has called for regular coordination between state actors and party leadership to define the country’s orientation on all major issues—including diplomacy and security.

“This is not about sharing posts,” Sonko insisted. “We are here to work for the people.”

A Clash of Philosophies

The divergent worldviews of Senegal’s top two leaders reflect a deeper tension between revolution and reform. While both men endured years of repression during their opposition years, their strategic outlooks appear to be diverging in power.

According to Sonko, the state apparatus must remain under party control to prevent it from resisting reform. He sees the battle against the “system” as ongoing and wants PASTEF to maintain its activist posture.

“If someone no longer identifies with the party line, they should leave,” he said, emphasizing that PASTEF must remain a “party of struggle” even in power.

President Faye, however, seems determined to preserve institutional independence, especially that of the judiciary. His moderation contrasts sharply with Sonko’s increasingly combative tone toward the justice system, particularly when court decisions go against PASTEF interests.

Ironically, both men once agreed on avoiding revenge politics. In a revealing anecdote, Sonko himself recalled that during a tense period before their election, he floated the idea of retribution against former regime figures.

But Diomaye firmly opposed it, insisting that justice should not be used for political revenge—a position he reaffirmed even when retested by Sonko while they were both in prison.

The Risk of Party Overreach

Observers fear that the current friction could undermine the governance project the two leaders campaigned on. As Sonko pushes for the party to regain influence over key decisions, critics warn of a possible regression toward the “party-state” model that Senegalese democracy has struggled to avoid.

The question now is whether the young administration can balance party loyalty with institutional integrity—or whether the very movement that brought them to power could begin to undo their promise of a new political era.

As Sonko puts it bluntly, “Parti bi moo moom mbir yi” — “The party owns the power.”

But President Faye seems to believe the people do.