The semantic shift
Since stepping down from the Prime Minister’s office, Ousmane Sonko has significantly recalibrated his public statements. His discourse, now notably more temperate, nuanced, and less confrontational, sees the Pastef leader adopting the persona of a peacemaker, striving to shed his previous image as a firebrand.
“Pastef has matured as a party.” Ousmane Sonko made this declaration recently in Diamniadio during the party’s congress. His intention was to urge his often-boisterous and combative militants to refine their conduct in the public sphere. “We must reconsider our manner of speaking, as we are observed by everyone, including religious leaders, family patriarchs… Taunts, insults, and derogatory remarks do not elevate us,” he emphasized to an approving crowd. Conscious of the need to lead by example, the former Prime Minister has adopted a noticeably more measured tone in his public appearances of late. Political commentators are now openly questioning whether the Pastef president is undergoing a profound transformation. Some speculate if a recent interview with international media marks the beginning of a genuine metamorphosis.
According to political analysis, the former Prime Minister did not merely defend his record or discuss his divergence with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. “Crucially, he sketched out the contours of a new political figure. A leader who now intends to wield influence differently, perhaps from the rostrum of the National Assembly, effectively transforming a dismissal into a fresh springboard for his ambitions,” one analyst noted.
Typically known for his assertive stance, Ousmane Sonko has significantly altered his rhetoric since his departure from the executive branch. Observers are pondering key questions: “Is the man of mass rallies evolving into a figure of equilibrium? Is the orator gradually transforming into an arbiter? Is this shift a sign of political maturation or simply a strategic phase on the path to 2029?” The answers, as many suggest, lie squarely in the future.
One aspect remains undeniable: the Pastef leader has not always exhibited unwavering consistency or coherence in his pronouncements. He is capable of articulating one position in the morning and seemingly contradicting it by evening. This appears to depend heavily on the objective of his statement and the audience he addresses. Recently, during discussions with foreign press, he presented himself as particularly composed and measured, meticulously weighing every word. While usually very decisive and categorical on issues like debt restructuring, he adopted a much more nuanced approach this time. When asked about his posture should the executive decide to restructure the national debt, he retorted: “Our positions are not, in an absolute sense, rigid. We will examine the situation with clarity.”
Contradictions and nuances in discourse
The most critical factor, in his view, is the specific proposal put forward. “We did not desire a reckless restructuring. As Prime Minister, I always opposed it because the conditions did not warrant it… As the outgoing Prime Minister, I understand we are experiencing a particularly strained period. We will assess the situation; we are not here to obstruct. However, if solutions do not serve the interest of Senegal, we will not accept them,” he added. When reminded by a journalist of his past calls for debt cancellation, Sonko initially backtracked before becoming somewhat muddled in his explanations. “You refer to odious debt. I used that term once or twice. It involves an entire process.” He continued with increasing ambiguity: “I did not possess all the levers. When I spoke on certain occasions, it was as a party leader offering an opinion. Do not forget that I was merely Prime Minister. And the powers of the Prime Minister are exceedingly limited in this country.” Asked if he had discussed this with the President, he replied: “We never discussed it. We were always in agreement regarding the debt. Up until our last conversation. He reaffirmed that the position has not changed.” Then, he seemed to revert, as if to reaffirm his stance on odious debt.
“Indeed, a portion of this debt is odious. It requires political courage to advance this debate. As a political figure, I have stated this repeatedly. I hope the current executive will assume its responsibilities in this regard and engage in discussions for the cancellation of a part of the debt…” The journalist interrupted him again, inquiring why he did not pursue this when he was Prime Minister. Sonko’s response was brief and unconvincing: “It was proposed, it was proposed.” It is noteworthy that Sonko’s last public mention of “odious debt” occurred during his appearance at the National Assembly on May 22, during current affairs questions. At that time, he was speaking in his capacity as Prime Minister, not merely as a party leader.
Furthermore, for what might be the first time, the President of the National Assembly spoke of “reckless restructuring,” having often previously dismissed any notion of restructuring outright. What, then, has prompted this change? Is the leader concealing his true intentions? This question holds significant weight. On the sensitive issue of homosexuality, the President of the National Assembly expressed himself with greater precision. He affirmed his positions but also highlighted certain realities he had previously seemed to overlook. The former Prime Minister recalled that the criminalization of homosexuality has existed since the Senghor regime and that arrests occurred even before Pastef’s rise. More significantly, Ousmane justified his stance with arguments that appear to contradict his earlier communications. Responding to journalists, he stated: “Here, arrests occurred before the vote on the toughening of the law. It stemmed from two factors: the practice of homosexuality coupled with the voluntary transmission of HIV. The Western press seems to want to obscure this second, extremely important aspect.” However, just days prior in the Hemicycle, he recounted discussions with one of his ministers where he seemed to fully endorse the crackdown. “The other day, I spoke with one of my ministers. He said: yes, the goal is to break the chain of HIV transmission. I told him no. The primary objective is to put an end to the proliferation of the phenomenon,” he had fumed. These remarks were widely cited by his political adversaries.
The apostle of peace
On a different note, when discussing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the Pastef leader carefully avoids inflammatory statements, a pattern he has maintained for some time. He even rejects the term “betrayal,” deeming it to belong to the realm of affection and morality. Sonko now seeks to embody “political correctness.” He also dismisses the idea of a personal quarrel between himself and the Head of State, characterizing their differences as purely political.
Ousmane had already laid the groundwork for this shift in trajectory and communication strategy in Diamniadio. For him, Pastef, now a mature party, must exemplify excellence in all aspects. “Pastef is a party of ideas, a party of science, a party of programs… Demonstrate that you are a well-educated youth, an intellectual youth, an intelligent youth, a civic-minded youth. Do not succumb to provocation. The only strategy left to them is to ensure that what transpired between 2021 and 2024 is repeated…” According to Ousmane Sonko, the opposing camp, lacking legitimacy, merely wishes to push them into the streets, to then portray them as a belligerent, conflict-ridden party… “Do not fall into this trap,” he warned.
