Ousmane Sonko accuses institutions of electoral manipulation and calls for calm among supporters
Ousmane Sonko, leader of Pastef, has accused certain institutions of potentially being used to manipulate elections, filter candidacies, and prevent the public from freely choosing representatives. He emphasized that in a democracy, the people are sovereign, not institutions, and suggested some officials might be instrumentalizing these institutions for electoral purposes. Sonko urged his supporters to remain calm, serene, and intelligent, and not to respond to provocation, positioning himself as a guarantor of party discipline against potential destabilization. The former Prime Minister also expressed his electoral ambitions, stating that if local elections are held in January 2027, his party would "correct them." He further articulated a strong desire for the dissolution of the National Assembly, anticipating early legislative elections that he expects to win decisively.
