Lth March 24, eve of his 44e anniversary, Bassirou Diomaye Faye became the youngest president of Senegal by uniting no less than 54% of Senegalese voters in his name. This tax inspector, who had emerged as a candidate in the wake of the opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, was elected on the promise of “overthrow the system” deemed clientelist. Everyone wondered how far the “rupture” promised by this sovereignist and pan-Africanist president who rushed to appoint his friend prime minister would go.
On Sunday, November 17, the two men will take their first electoral test during early legislative elections that they have called. A major step for these two former senior officials who, as their campaign slogan “Diomaye is Sonko” announced, govern together in a singular choreography.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, omnipresent, swallows up the public space while the president remains reserved. A reversal of roles at the top of the executive branch unprecedented in a State forged by hyper-presidentialism, a system inherited from Léopold Sédar Senghor, first president of independent Senegal, and castigated by his distant successor Diomaye Faye.
A sharing of roles
As a candidate, he denounced the “control” of the then president, Macky Sall, on legislative and judicial issues and promised constitutional reform to reduce presidential power. This distribution agreed by the Head of State – who describes Ousmane Sonko as “best prime minister in history” – could inspire a new model of governance, not without pitfalls.
“Their sharing of roles results from an exceptional situation. The Prime Minister elected the President, hence the latter’s loyalty. The balance is maintained because they consult each other”, notes Maurice Soudieck Dione, associate professor of political science at Gaston-Berger University (UGB), in Saint-Louis, Senegal. However, the president must not cede his powers because he alone holds the legitimacy of universal suffrage. Otherwise, we create the conditions for a confrontation. »
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Promoter of straighten, straighten, correct (“righteousness, transparency and exemplarity”, in Wolof), the duo tries to establish new practices even in the financing of their party, Pastef (African Patriots of Senegal for work, ethics and fraternity).
To its activists who demand ” change “Ousmane Sonko asks to put your hand in your pocket to support the electoral campaign. “His speech is innovative compared to that of the classic political class, which encourages activists to get involved. They join out of conviction, not because they were given money or food.”analyzes Moussa Diaw, professor emeritus in political science at UGB.
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