Diomaye’s maneuvers: The pitfalls Ousmane Sonko must still avoid

Ousmane Sonko and Pastef lawmakers’ rejection of the supplementary finance bill could backfire amid their political confrontation with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Dr. Malao Kanté, a political philosophy researcher at UCAD, says Senegalese people may accuse Sonko of blocking the country for political reasons, while a budget deadlock could threaten salary payments and worsen business failures and layoffs. Minister-counsellor Aldiouma Sow also condemned the move as hypocritical and dangerous for thousands of households. Kanté notes that the president has constitutional options, including governing by ordinance or decree, even if Pastef refuses to approve the bill.