Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – A year into its tenure, Senegal’s ruling PASTEF party, led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, is facing mounting scrutiny over its ability to implement the sovereignty-driven agenda that propelled it to power. While intellectuals and political analysts recognize certain symbolic gestures, they argue that tangible progress toward breaking free from colonial and neocolonial influences remains elusive.

The party’s promise of economic and monetary sovereignty, Pan-Africanism, and the removal of French military presence had captured the imagination of many Senegalese citizens, particularly leftist movements that aligned with PASTEF’s nationalist vision. However, as the administration completes its first year, experts say a clear departure from past governance models is yet to materialize.

“No Decisive Acts of Creative Rupture“

Elimane Kane, director of Legs Africa and contributor to the Alternative Report on Africa (RASA), contends that the government has yet to undertake significant actions that would signal a fundamental shift toward sovereignty. “There are not yet acts of creative rupture of a sovereignist perspective,” he notes, emphasizing the absence of clearly defined mechanisms to alter Senegal’s economic and political trajectory.

Kane further criticizes the administration’s increasing tendency to justify challenges rather than implement radical changes. “If there is resilience observed in maintaining institutional stability, it does not yet translate into creative capacity toward sustainable solutions,” he explains.

One of the key indicators of this struggle, he argues, is the continued reliance on multilateral financial institutions. The government’s strategy of negotiating debt re-engagement and seeking concessional loans from Bretton Woods institutions aligns more with traditional stabilization policies than a sovereignty-focused economic model. The failure to establish independent monetary mechanisms or mobilize local savings, Kane asserts, is a missed opportunity to redefine Senegal’s economic independence.

Symbolic Moves, but a Long Road Ahead

Despite these criticisms, other analysts point to some steps taken by the government that reflect its commitment to sovereignty. Dr. Cheikh Guèye, a governance expert, highlights the closure of French military bases in Senegal as a symbolic milestone. “There are acts that have been posed, such as the closure of the French bases and an assertive celebration of Thiaroye 44,” he says. However, he acknowledges that these actions alone do not equate to full sovereignty.

Guèye insists that achieving true sovereignty requires a collaborative approach with other African nations. “For poor countries like Senegal, which are very dependent on an extroverted economy, it is impossible to achieve sovereignty in isolation. It must be built with the participation of other African countries, particularly within the sub-region,” he states.

Challenges in Agricultural Policy

Beyond macroeconomic and political sovereignty, questions have also arisen about PASTEF’s approach to food security and agricultural independence. Kane expresses concerns about the government’s handling of agricultural cooperatives, arguing that they should emerge organically from grassroots farming communities rather than being imposed by the state.

As PASTEF moves into its second year in office, the debate over its ability to fulfill its sovereignty agenda is likely to intensify. While some progress has been made, experts argue that without structural economic and monetary shifts, Senegal’s sovereignty may remain more rhetorical than real.