Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has come under fire after launching a scathing verbal attack against the country’s civil society, using highly derogatory language that has ignited widespread condemnation and deepened political tensions.
In a fiery speech delivered Thursday, Sonko lashed out at civil society organizations (CSOs), branding some of their members as “fumier” – a French insult that loosely translates to “scumbags,” “bastards,” or even harsher slurs in English.
“People criticize others who represent institutions all day long. Then, civil society and all these scumbags come to tell us about human rights,” Sonko said, in remarks that have since gone viral and drawn immediate backlash.
He went even further, publicly challenging President Bassirou Diomaye Faye—his political ally and longtime comrade—to either “fix this” issue with civil society or face Sonko’s own intervention:
“Besides, I call upon President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Whether he fixes this or I will do it myself.”
Sonko also criticized the role of CSOs in Senegal’s political landscape, claiming that their influence is unprecedented and inappropriate:
“I have never seen a civil society that dictates its policies to a regime. It does not exist in Europe or the United States,” he stated.
Public Backlash and Hypocrisy Claims
The Prime Minister’s remarks drew immediate rebuke from across the political spectrum. Many critics highlighted the irony of Sonko’s outburst, noting that he had just claimed to always address Senegalese citizens with dignity and restraint, only to descend into vulgar insults moments later.
Observers argue that Sonko’s language is not only unbecoming of a high-ranking public official but also dangerous in the current climate of heightened political tensions.
“Such inflammatory rhetoric only serves to further polarize society and undermine democratic values,” one political analyst said. “It fuels division and threatens the already fragile political consensus in the country.”
Beyond Words: A Growing Rift With Sonko Threatening the Civil Society’s Independence
Beyond the offensive language, Sonko’s speech also carried a more ominous warning for Senegal’s civil society. He announced plans to introduce legislation that would ban foreign funding for CSOs, a move he claims is necessary to protect Senegal’s sovereignty.
According to Sonko, foreign financing allows external powers to meddle in Senegal’s internal affairs through civil society activism.
“This is about ensuring that our public debate is not influenced by foreign interests,” Sonko declared.
However, critics see this as a thinly veiled attempt to silence dissent and weaken independent watchdogs.
“Restricting funding will cripple many CSOs that provide essential services, from human rights advocacy to anti-corruption campaigns,” warned a legal expert in Dakar. “It’s a dangerous step toward authoritarianism.”
Sonko’s animosity towards civil society is not new, but this latest episode marks a significant escalation. Many of the CSOs he targets were instrumental in mobilizing protests during his legal troubles prior to the 2024 election, and several openly oppose his hardline stances as Prime Minister.
The public rift also raises questions about his alliance with President Faye, as Sonko appears increasingly willing to force confrontations over issues such as civil liberties, media regulation, and foreign policy.
As the controversy deepens, it remains to be seen whether Sonko will backtrack under pressure or double down—potentially testing the limits of Senegal’s democratic resilience.
