Senegal’s dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has said he is facing punishment for publicly criticizing government spending and leadership style amid the country’s economic challenges.
In a statement posted online, Sonko said: “I am being punished for saying there is no dignity in stealing at the expense of the poor masses.”
He linked his removal to remarks about President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s handling of the economy and foreign engagements.
“At a time when Senegal is struggling with a worsening economy, rising debt, fuel subsidy challenges, and difficult negotiations with the IMF, all Faye seems concerned about is traveling to France, taking pictures with Macron, and borrowing even more money from the IMF,” Sonko said.
Sonko said he had warned the president that continuing on the current path would disappoint Senegalese citizens who expected a break from past governance styles.
“I told him that if we continue like this, the people of Senegal will eventually be disappointed in us because we are younger, and they expected something different from the same old style of leadership that has kept Africa stagnant for decades,” he stated.
Questioning the substance of the administration’s reform agenda, he added: “We came into leadership with promises of change, but what kind of change are we offering if the poor still carry the burden while the political class lives comfortably? What have I really done wrong by speaking the truth?”
Senegal is currently navigating rising debt, subsidy pressures, and ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund.