By Alagi Yorro Jallow
Fatoumatta: In the theater of statecraft, Senegal is playing a curious role. The President speaks with caution, while the Prime Minister urges improvisation, leaving the audience—comprising both regional neighbors and the international community—confused by the discord. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko refers to the Guinean coup as “stage-managed,” treating politics as if it were a circus act. In contrast, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye attempts to maintain a dignified narrative. However, when leaders perform in different keys, diplomacy devolves into a cacophony.
Senegal’s decision to grant sanctuary to deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló embodies a troubling contradiction and a stark paradox in regional politics, as a President and his Prime Minister speak from two microphones at the helm. This is not effective governance; it resembles a duet that has gone horribly off-key. One voice advocates for prudence, while another fuels provocation. The result? A diplomatic blunder that transforms Senegal from a potential conductor of regional harmony into a band fumbling through their rehearsal without the guidance of sheet music.
As Fatoumatta aptly points out, “a republic cannot play jazz with its foreign policy.” Diplomacy demands unity; without it, trust and confidence in Senegal’s regional role weaken, risking collapse into disarray. This underscores the need for cohesive leadership to foster regional stability, which is vital for the audience’s understanding of regional security.
According to DW Africa, Sonko has openly accused President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of exploiting the military to cling to power after losing the first round of elections. In parliament, he declared with conviction: “What happened in Guinea-Bissau was a sham. We demand that the electoral process continue. The electoral commission must be empowered to declare the rightful winner.”
Guinea-Bissau’s military has installed Major-General Horta Inta-a as the transitional president, sidelining civilian authorities before any election results could be announced. Former President Embaló, who was released by military forces, has since arrived in Senegal amid allegations that he ordered security forces to detain opposition leaders and incite chaos to justify a state of emergency. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is closely monitoring the situation.
Fatoumatta emphasizes that internal leadership conflicts in Senegal, such as those between Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and President Diomaye Faye, who speak in different terms, threaten regional stability and weaken Senegal’s diplomatic credibility. Highlighting this connection clarifies how internal disunity directly affects regional peace, underscoring the importance of cohesive leadership to readers.
President Diomaye Faye has taken a cautious stance on Guinea-Bissau’s decision to grant sanctuary, aiming to maintain Senegal’s diplomatic balance in the volatile ECOWAS region. However, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has openly contradicted him, suggesting that the Guinean coup was “stage-managed.”
This statement not only undermines the president’s position but also raises doubts about Senegal’s capacity to present a unified voice in regional affairs. This incident occurs amid escalating tensions between Sonko and Faye, with Sonko expressing increasing frustration over what he perceives as Faye’s lack of authority and decisiveness in governance. Senegal has long been regarded as a stabilizing force in West Africa, known for its diplomatic moderation and regional leadership. However, public contradictions at the highest levels, such as Sonko’s outburst and Faye’s cautious stance, threaten that pride and the legacy of regional influence. Given the fragility of Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia, these internal divisions risk weakening Senegal’s traditional role, risking increased tensions and alienating allies. Recognizing this context underscores the importance of internal unity in upholding national dignity and regional responsibility.
This situation highlights the fragility of Senegal’s new leadership tandem. Sonko, a populist and confrontational figure, has been the face of the Pastef party, while Faye has been perceived as the quieter administrator. Sonko’s public criticisms challenge Faye’s authority and underscore the dangers of internal leadership conflicts for regional diplomacy. For Senegal, the risks are evident: when leaders contradict each other on sensitive regional issues, the country jeopardizes its moral authority within ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) and the African Union. Sonko’s remarks were not only immature but also reckless, threatening regional stability and eroding trust in Senegal’s leadership.
Fatoumatta: Diplomacy is not a spectacle; it requires unity. Senegal’s recent contradictions threaten regional trust, highlighting the need for leaders to prioritize collective stability over individual disputes. President Faye, cautious and deliberate, aimed to preserve Senegal’s credibility within ECOWAS by avoiding inflammatory language. In contrast, Sonko, a populist who is impatient and combative, dismissed the coup as “stage-managed.” With this statement, Sonko undermined President Faye’s position, embarrassed Senegal before its neighbors, and raised doubts about the country’s ability to act as a stabilizing force in West Africa.
This is more than a mere slip of the tongue; it reflects a deeper issue: the uneasy power-sharing arrangement between Faye and Sonko. Once united against Macky Sall, they are now engaged in a silent contest for authority and power. Sonko’s outburst was not just a diplomatic mistake; it was a political statement asserting his independence and testing the limits of his role.
History teaches us that divided leadership leads to instability. Senegal has long taken pride in being an exception in a region troubled by coups. However, when its leaders contradict each other on matters of regional diplomacy, the country risks losing its moral authority. Guinea-Bissau and Guinea are fragile states; careless remarks can inflame tensions and erode trust. The lesson is clear: a nation cannot afford to have two voices in leadership. Senegal must choose whether to speak with the prudence of statesmanship or the recklessness of populist provocation. For the sake of West Africa’s fragile peace, this decision cannot be postponed. Fatoumatta: Diplomacy is not theatre, yet Senegal’s leaders seem to be performing on stage. One voice whispers caution, while another shouts “fabrication.” The audience—Guinea-Bissau, ECOWAS, and the broader region only hears discord. A republic cannot afford to have two microphones at the helm.
Diplomacy demands a united front. However, Senegal has recently revealed a concerning level of disunity at its highest levels. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has urged caution in addressing the turmoil in Guinea-Bissau. At the same time, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has vehemently dismissed reports of a coup attempt as nothing more than a “fabrication.”
This scenario underscores two critical dangers. First, there is a palpable disconnect within Senegal’s leadership, with Sonko and Faye articulating conflicting perspectives on a pressing issue of regional instability. Second, careless rhetoric threatens to undermine the fragile equilibrium that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) must maintain in a region where coups and power struggles are not mere abstractions, but harsh realities that people live with daily.
Fatoumatta: A republic cannot afford to improvise with its foreign policy. Unity in leadership is essential; otherwise, the resulting discord will lead to chaos rather than constructive dialogue.
