Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has reaffirmed his commitment to power-sharing within the Senegalese executive, declaring his firm support for Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko while emphasizing the need for accountability regarding the tenure of his predecessor, Macky Sall.

During a press engagement on April 4, 2025, at the presidential palace, Faye openly addressed the delicate balance of leadership in Senegal, rejecting the hyperpresidentialism that has long defined the country’s political system. “I want a super strong prime minister, no offense to his detractors,” Faye stated, making it clear that Sonko’s role in government is not merely symbolic but an integral part of his governance model.

Faye dismissed claims that his endorsement of Sonko was based on personal loyalty, asserting that his vision for a more decentralized executive was shaped long before his election. “Before my election, I had seen an excessive concentration of power in the president’s hands. I am not in a logic of grabbing. I am not, and I don’t want to be, this kind of president,” he declared. Instead, he championed a governance structure based on collegiality and complementarity, arguing that “only one person cannot manage a country.”

The Senegalese leader also used the opportunity to reinforce his stance on accountability for past governance. Without detailing specific accusations, Faye accused former President Macky Sall of engaging in undisclosed activities behind the scenes. “After our handover on April 2, 2024, we made the hugs even though I had an empty heart. Then, I gave him the presidential jet to go to Mecca to do the little pilgrimage. But I know he is doing things behind the scenes,” Faye remarked, without elaborating on what those “things” entailed.

However, he made it clear that his administration would not engage in political vendettas but would instead uphold the rule of law. “I do not fixate on Macky Sall, but he is not above the law. This country has been managed for twelve years, and everyone will have to answer for their actions,” Faye asserted. He emphasized the principle of equality before justice, challenging the perception that accountability measures against politicians are mere acts of political settling. “When an economic operator is targeted, it seems normal; but as soon as it is a politician, we cry out for the settlement of accounts,” he said, adding that judicial scrutiny should apply to all without exception.

Faye assured that investigations into past management would be conducted rigorously and impartially. “All management will be screened. Investigations will be carried out, and where the facts will require, justice will take its course,” he promised, indicating that the legal fate of Macky Sall and his associates would depend on the findings of these inquiries.

Beyond accountability, President Faye underscored his administration’s broader institutional reform agenda, citing plans to restructure Senegal’s governance system. He referenced the unfinished work of the National Commission of Institutions (CNI) from 2013, which had proposed significant reforms, including the creation of a vice-presidential post and a constitutional court. “We are migrating to a new organization of our institutions,” Faye noted, insisting that his government was committed to implementing the consensus reached during the 2013 National Dialogue.

To this end, an ad hoc committee has been tasked with drafting legislative proposals to redefine the distribution of powers within the executive, ensuring a system of checks and balances for a more democratic Senegal.

As President Faye steers the country through this transition, his dual focus on power-sharing and accountability signals a significant shift in Senegalese governance. Whether this approach will successfully balance political stability with justice remains to be seen, but for now, Faye appears resolute in his vision for a transformed Senegal.