Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s continued public silence is drawing increasing scrutiny as signs of internal strain deepen within Pastef, the party that propelled both him and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to power. While speculation over a rift between the Head of State and his influential Prime Minister has circulated for months, recent developments have given new weight to the allegation that the presidential movement is splitting into rival camps.
For weeks, observers have noted growing pressure within Pastef as political appointments, governance choices, and strategic alliances provoke unease among the party’s most committed supporters.
At the center of these tensions is the perception that the once-unbreakable Diomaye-Sonko partnership is now being tested by the realities of state power and internal positioning struggles.
The situation became more visible following remarks from the Minister of the Environment, Abdourahmane Diouf, which political analysts interpreted as reinforcing the idea of two emerging blocs: a “pro-Sonko” faction and a “pro-Diomaye” faction.
The comment reignited debate over the direction of the government and the balance of power between the presidency and the Prime Minister’s office.
Yet President Diomaye Faye has maintained a notable distance from the controversy. Apart from formal interventions on domestic and international policy, he has not addressed the internal friction or the speculation surrounding his relationship with Sonko.
Whether this silence reflects strategic calculation, a deliberate Republican posture, or simple indifference remains unclear.
The question may take on greater urgency following the anticipated Téra-meeting scheduled for November 8, a major political event expected to draw significant public and party attention.
In a development that has further fueled debate, Prime Minister Sonko announced on Wednesday that he would be taking leave beginning November 6, following a previous short break in late October. A video circulated on social media showed him appearing visibly tired, and he cited the need for rest after more than 18 months in office.
However, the timing – coming amid the National Assembly’s budget session and just two days before Sonko is expected to lead a large political gathering – has triggered sharp reactions from the opposition.
Journalist and political figure Mamoudou Ibra Kane condemned what he described as “a blatant lack of respect towards the Senegalese people,” arguing that the government was failing to communicate transparently about the functioning of state institutions. Mocking what he called a political contradiction, he asked how the Prime Minister could be too exhausted to govern yet prepared to lead a major rally.
“Taking leave due to poor health, while being in good enough shape to play political games?” he questioned. He went further, suggesting that the leave could be interpreted as a withdrawal, if not a symbolic resignation.
For now, however, the key actor remains silent. President Diomaye Faye has given no indication of how he views the situation or whether he intends to intervene to ease internal tensions.
What remains clear is that Pastef, once united under the banner of reform and resistance, now finds itself navigating the complications of governance, expectation, and political loyalty.
Whether the upcoming November 8 meeting becomes a moment of clarification or a flashpoint will shape both the government’s stability and the future of the Diomaye-Sonko tandem.
The silence of the President may not hold much longer.
