Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has held talks with the leadership of the ruling PASTEF party to ease tensions arising from the restructuring of the presidential coalition and to reaffirm unity within its ranks.
President Faye met on Tuesday with the National Political Bureau (BPN) of PASTEF-Les Patriotes, a meeting held in a “fraternal” atmosphere a week after public disagreements over its restructuring, according to a party statement.
Led by its secretary general, Ayib Daffe, the BPN discussed the national political situation with the President, with a particular focus on strengthening internal cohesion and the Diomaye-Sonko
partnership, the statement obtained by APA specifies.
The meeting comes after tensions arose following the announcement on November 11th
of the end of Aissatou Mbodj’s tenure as head of the “Diomaye Président” coalition, replaced by Aminata Toure to lead its restructuring.
PASTEF immediately contested this decision, arguing that the head of state was not authorised to dismiss Ms. Mbodj, and distanced itself from Aminata Toure, deeming that they did not share
“the same values and principles.”
According to information reported by journalist Babacar Toure (Kewoulo), President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko held lengthy discussions earlier this week to ease tensions.
The National Political Bureau (BPN), which says it is continuing to implement its action plan defined on November 15th, affirms its desire to respond “more effectively” to the expectations of the Senegalese and African people.
In a statement released Wednesday, the party’s deputy spokesperson, Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye, rejected any suggestion of internal division.
She said she observed “a more than cordial atmosphere” at the National Political Bureau meeting and asserted that she had seen “two great men aware of the stakes and determined to move
forward together.”
Ms. Faye denounced “dishonest and disgraceful maneuvers” aimed at sowing doubt among the public.
On the same day, the Minister of National Education, Moustapha Guirassy, praised the “relaxed yet demanding atmosphere” of the Council of Ministers, describing it as one of the most “inspiring” of
his public career.
These stances seem intended to reassure about the solidity of the presidential front, while speculation persists about possible internal tensions linked to the reorganisation of the “Diomaye President” coalition which in March 2024 prevailed over the Benno Bokk Yaakaar (United in hope) coalition and its candidate, Amadou Ba.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA