In a candid interview, Lansana Gagny Sakho, Chairman of the Board of the Agence Nationale chargée de la Promotion des Investissements et des Grands Travaux (APIX), addressed his evolving relationship with Ousmane Sonko and the principles guiding his political stance. Speaking on national radio, he emphasized his unwavering commitment to Senegal’s republican institutions over personal ambitions.
Reflecting on his past association with the Pastef movement, Sakho admitted he was initially drawn to the party’s vision, inspired by its leading figures. However, he clarified that after the political transition, he declined an offer to lead the Water and Sanitation sector, prioritizing his principles over a government position. « I refused to prioritize titles over my convictions. That decision kept my integrity intact, and from the start, I chose the Republic, » he stated firmly.
Contrasting his own path with Sonko’s, Sakho criticized the opposition leader for what he described as a persistent disregard for institutional cohesion. He pointed to a public statement made by Sonko during President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s official visits to the United States and China, where Sonko allegedly undermined national authority. « His remarks were not just misplaced—they embarrassed the entire country, » Sakho asserted, arguing that such actions deepened divisions within the state.
The former ally of Pastef also weighed in on the Ministry of Justice, where changes in leadership sparked controversy. He dismissed claims that the former Minister of Justice, Ousmane Diagne, was replaced to exert control over the judiciary, calling such assumptions naive. « Judges are not puppets; they operate beyond political manipulation, » he remarked, underscoring the judiciary’s resilience against external pressures.
Sakho’s remarks come amid a wave of high-profile departures from Pastef, as several party members align with the presidential camp ahead of the anticipated launch of a new political movement, Kiiraay. His vocal support for President Faye’s policies highlights a broader trend of institutional loyalty reshaping Senegal’s political landscape. For Sakho, the choice remains clear: « Stability and the strength of our institutions matter more than fleeting political gains. »
