A political message delivered from the chamber
Mbaye Dione’s speech at the National Assembly went beyond economic issues related to the IMF, debt, and local government endowment funds. In the final part of his address, the deputy chose to broaden his remarks to the national political situation and the climate between the ruling party and the opposition.
Addressing the president of the National Assembly, he asked that a message be relayed to Ousmane Sonko. A solemn message, in a context he described as marked by unusual political tension.
‘We are not his enemies’
The strong phrase from his speech will undoubtedly remain: ‘We are not his enemies. We are his opponents.’
With this declaration, Mbaye Dione aimed to draw a clear line between political opposition and personal hostility. For him, opposing a government, a majority, or a political direction does not mean being against the country, let alone being the enemy of those in power.
The deputy thus reminded that Senegal’s opposition claims a republican stance. According to his words, it intends to fully play its role in democratic debate, supporting the government when necessary but also opposing when it deems useful.
A reminder of Ousmane Sonko’s past as an opponent
Mbaye Dione also invoked Ousmane Sonko’s political past to support his argument. He recalled that Sonko himself was a figure of the opposition and used institutional platforms to express his disagreements.
According to the deputy, Ousmane Sonko must therefore accept, in turn, that political leaders do not share his positions. He believes that contradiction is part of the normal functioning of a democracy.
For Mbaye Dione, those who opposed yesterday must be able to accept opposition today. He thus called for a form of political consistency in the way adversaries are treated.
The National Assembly must not become a place for settling scores
In his speech, Mbaye Dione also insisted on the place of the National Assembly in the country’s institutional balance. He reminded that this institution holds an important rank in the republic and must remain a space for debate, oversight, and accountability.
The deputy warned against any attempt to turn the chamber into a venue for personal confrontation or political score-settling. In his view, the National Assembly must serve the country, not become a theatre of clashes between camps.
This warning reflects a broader concern: preserving the dignity of parliament and the quality of democratic debate.
An opposition that claims its responsibility
Mbaye Dione insisted on presenting the opposition as a responsible force committed to republican principles. He stated that opposition deputies are not in a logic of systematic obstruction but in a vigilance approach.
‘We will act as responsible republicans, courageous opponents,’ he said in essence.
Through these words, the deputy aims to defend an opposition capable of supporting good decisions while firmly contesting those it deems contrary to the national interest.
A call for political appeasement
Beyond the interpellation addressed to Ousmane Sonko, Mbaye Dione’s statement sounds like a call for appeasement in relations between the ruling party and the opposition. The parliamentarian invites the new authorities to recognize the legitimacy of political contradiction.
His message rests on a simple idea: in a democracy, governing does not mean silencing the opposition, and opposing does not mean working against the country.
By reminding that opponents are not enemies, Mbaye Dione attempts to reposition political debate on institutional and republican ground.
