Political fault lines within the Pastef movement have widened, exposing a stark divide. On Monday, July 6, 2026, Aldiouma Sow, a prominent figure aligned with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, publicly condemned Ousmane Sonko during a live appearance on TFM.
Sow argued that Sonko has undergone a dramatic transformation since assuming power. He claimed that the Pastef leader concealed his true intentions while in opposition, only revealing what he described as a dangerous “messianic” tendency after taking office. According to Sow, this shift contradicts the party’s founding principles, which were rooted in collective leadership rather than personalization of power.
He warned that this evolution risks alienating the party’s base, whose support was originally pledged to a shared political vision rather than an individual figure. Sow also suggested that Sonko’s trajectory has played into the hands of critics who have long accused the ruling party of abandoning its original ethos.
The remarks follow weeks of growing friction between Sow and Sonko. While Sow has positioned himself as a staunch ally of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, he has simultaneously intensified his criticism of Sonko. This public clash underscores the deepening rifts within Pastef, particularly as the President has distanced himself from the party to establish his own political movement.
