Ousmane Sonko calls for dialogue to prevent Senegal from relapsing into crisis
via SeneNews2 min read
Ousmane Sonko, leader of Senegal's majority party and former Prime Minister, has called for a "constructive dialogue" with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to prevent the country from relapsing into crisis. Sonko stated that his supporters would "accompany" the new government. This marks Sonko's first public statement since President Faye dismissed him on May 22 due to irreconcilable differences, particularly concerning the management of the West African nation's substantial debt. Sonko, who was elected President of the National Assembly on May 26, reported that Faye felt "a number of positions I had taken recently inconvenienced him and posed a problem." Sonko criticized the new 30-member government appointed by Faye on Monday, stating, "A country is serious! A government is serious! I have the impression that President Diomaye does not know what it means to form a government... you don't form a government lightly." He added that the current situation is "unprecedented," with a government lacking a "structured, serious political legitimacy" around Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Sonko emphasized that they are in a situation of cohabitation, as Faye does not have a single deputy in the National Assembly. He urged Faye to "come down from his pedestal and let's talk." Sonko's Pastef party holds 130 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly. He affirmed, "We are here to support him so that he succeeds. If Pastef wanted, in 72 hours, this government could fall. But we will not censure them
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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