Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has called for retaliation against opposition supporters, alleging that his party, Pastef, has been targeted during the run-up to Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Sonko, who has led the government since April, pointed to violent clashes in several cities, including the capital, Dakar, the northern city of Saint-Louis, and Koungheul in the central region.
According to Sonko, the attacks on his supporters were orchestrated by individuals aligned with rival Dakar Mayor Barthelemy Dias and his coalition. In a post on Facebook, Sonko stated, “Every attack on Pastef supporters, every patriot who has been harmed, must be avenged in kind.” He emphasized that Pastef would exercise its “legitimate right to retaliate.”
Despite the filing of complaints, Sonko lamented that there had been no arrests related to the violence, criticizing the lack of action by authorities. He also called for the end of Dias’s coalition’s campaigning efforts, saying, “Barthelemy Dias and his coalition should no longer campaign in this country.”
Later on Tuesday, Pastef party members were expected to gather near Dias’s residence. The Samm Sa Kaddu coalition, which Dias leads, responded to Sonko’s remarks by accusing him of inciting violence. They condemned what they called a “call to murder” and claimed that their own coalition had suffered multiple attacks during the campaign.
“Saddled with the fear of defeat, Ousmane Sonko is attempting to stifle democracy and create an atmosphere of terror,” the Samm Sa Kaddu coalition stated on social media. They held Sonko accountable for any harm that might come to their members, activists, or supporters.
The parliamentary elections, scheduled for Sunday, follow the dissolution of the previous opposition-dominated parliament by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in September. Sonko’s Pastef party aims to secure a legislative majority in order to push forward its agenda focused on social justice, economic reform, and tackling corruption.
In late September, President Faye urged all parties involved in the elections to act responsibly, exercising restraint and moderation.
