Senegal: Rupture cancelled, when President Diomaye prefers the comfort of the system
There was a time, not so long ago, when Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye shared prison cells, shared ideas, and most importantly, shared promises of radical change. Together, they challenged the regime of Macky Sall in the name of sovereignty, justice, and freedom. Together, they carried the hope of a new Senegal—free from the chains of corruption, compromise, and old political practices. But today, the dream of a united duo seems to be dissolving in the bitter fumes of French neocolonialism.
Since taking office in March 2024, Diomaye Faye seems to have traded his revolutionary attire for the well-pressed suit of a pragmatic head of state—read: cautious, conciliatory, perhaps even… traitorous? As the months go by, the president elected under the banner of rupture shows clear signs of ideological drift. His new associates? Some former dignitaries of the ousted regime. His discourse? More moderate. His priorities? Less bold.
Meanwhile, Sonko remains loyal to the hardline stance, the frank speech, and the original vision. And that, clearly, is becoming a problem. Increasingly seen as a disruptive presence within the government, he now seems to be a liability. His bluntness, his unfiltered positions, his unwavering loyalty to the founding project make him inconvenient for Diomaye Faye—and especially for those who now whisper in the president’s ear, many of whom carry the scent of the old regime.
Persistent rumors even speak of the imminent reopening of legal cases against the Prime Minister. The thinly veiled objective: to weaken him, tarnish him, even eliminate him politically. The method? Familiar. The effect? Potentially devastating. If confirmed, Senegal would be witnessing a political scene worthy of the greatest tragedies: the comrade-in-arms sacrificed in the name of preserving the throne.
In the midst of an economic crisis, with a population still waiting for real change, this rupture at the top feels like yet another heavy blow. And while Senegalese citizens wait patiently for justice and freedom to finally prevail, they may soon find that true change, too, has been sealed away.
