Pastef leader Ousmane Sonko has dismissed growing speculation surrounding the possible exclusion of President Diomaye Faye from the ruling party, insisting that no such decision is currently being considered and that any future action would be determined through the party’s established procedures.
Speaking during an interview with RFI and France 24, Sonko emphasized that discussions about excluding Faye are premature and that the matter is not on the party’s agenda at this stage.
“That will be assessed when the time comes. We’re not there yet. The party will decide,” Sonko said.
The Pastef president stressed that the party operates through institutional mechanisms rather than individual authority, underscoring the importance of collective decision-making within the organization.
“Pastef is very structured, very organized. It has statutes, and these statutes are very clear on the procedures to follow, on the grievances to be put on the table in order to discuss the exclusion or not of someone,” he explained.
Sonko further rejected any suggestion that he alone could determine the fate of party members, stating that such decisions belong to Pastef’s governing bodies.
“The party will decide. The party is not Ousmane Sonko, and it is the governing bodies that will decide when the time comes,” he added.
His comments come amid increasing political speculation about the relationship between Senegal’s two most prominent leaders following their historic rise to power. While rumors of tensions and internal disagreements have circulated in recent months, Sonko’s remarks appear aimed at reassuring supporters that Pastef remains committed to its internal democratic processes and organizational discipline.
By placing the responsibility for any future disciplinary action in the hands of the party’s institutions, Sonko sought to reinforce the image of Pastef as a structured political movement governed by rules rather than personalities.
For now, the possibility of Diomaye Faye’s exclusion remains hypothetical, with Sonko making it clear that any such decision, if ever considered, would follow the procedures outlined in the party’s statutes and be determined collectively by its leadership bodies
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