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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
RFI

‘No blank cheque' for president or government says Senegal’s Sonko

os RFI Ousmane Sonko Bassirou Diomaye Faye Senegal the National Assembly France FRANCE 24 Pastef the World Cup
The president of the National Assembly and former Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, interviewed by RFI and France 24, in Dakar on 14 June 2026.
Cover image: The president of the National Assembly and former Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, interviewed by RFI and France 24, in Dakar on 14 June 2026. © RFI/France 24

In his first major international interview since becoming Speaker of Senegal's National Assembly, former prime minister Ousmane Sonko talks to RFI and sister channel France 24 about his split with his long-time ally President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. In the wide-reaching discussion, he also touches on the debt crisis, homosexuality legislation, regional security, his political aspirations and the World Cup.

On 22 May 2026, President Faye fired his long-standing political ally Sonko as prime minister and dissolved his entire government.

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