In Ziguinchor, the facade of unity has shattered. What was once limited to whispers and muted rivalries has now become an open political confrontation within Pastef. At the heart of this internal dispute are two local figures: the city’s mayor, Djibril Sonko, and his deputy, Bassirou Coly, now locked in a struggle that is causing concern even within party circles.
In the historic stronghold of Pastef leader Ousmane Sonko, the situation is taking on the dimensions of a political time bomb. Beneath the rhetoric of mobilisation, the fractures are deepening and threatening the cohesion of a party aiming to solidify its positions in the country’s south. It all began with a political meeting held in Soucoupapaye, officially intended to re-energise activists and prepare for upcoming elections. But the gathering quickly exceeded its original scope.
Around local and national officials, including Toussaint Manga and Professor Alassane Diédhiou, speeches revealed an openly acknowledged rivalry between opposing camps. On one side, the mayor’s supporters defend his record and institutional legitimacy. On the other, a faction rallied by Bassirou Coly is pushing for an alternative and is not ruling out a mayoral candidacy in the next local elections.
An increasingly fragile facade of unity
Tensions crystallised around a central issue: the reconquest and political control of the Ziguinchor city hall. During exchanges, Bassirou Coly made his ambitions clear, stating his desire to run for mayor while insisting he would abide by the party’s final decision.
In response, Mayor Djibril Sonko defended his municipal record and commitment, rejecting criticism and highlighting his local roots. Without directly naming his opponents, he implied that internal debates should not undermine the development momentum underway in the commune.
These public stances acted as a catalyst. For months, underlying tensions had been simmering within the party’s local bodies. They are now fully exposed, fuelled by personal rivalries and competing ambitions.
For many activists present, this episode marks a worrying turning point. At a time when Pastef seeks to consolidate its foothold in its symbolic stronghold, these internal divisions risk weakening the political momentum. Beyond the local case, the stakes extend far beyond just the Ziguinchor city hall. As a highly symbolic city in Ousmane Sonko’s political journey, it serves as a barometer of the party’s strength in the south.
Some local leaders are already warning about the political consequences of losing this strategic commune. Losing Ziguinchor would be seen as a negative signal ahead of the 2029 presidential election, with the 2027 local polls a decisive step. Faced with rising tensions, voices are calling for discipline and unity. But on the ground, rivalries persist, fed by increasingly public positions.
