On the evening of March 24, 2024, Senegal invented a novel political concept: a dual presidency, sealed by the unifying slogan "Diomaye mooy Sonko, Sonko mooy Diomaye." Bassirou Diomaye Faye, propelled to the highest office by the tactical genius and sacrifice of his mentor, then asked his "super-powerful" Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, to "keep an eye on the presidential chair without ever coveting it too much." Two years later, the veneer of militant camaraderie is cracking under the pressure of structural ambitions. The time has come for emancipation. A paradoxical emancipation, taking place both against the shadow of the political mentor and through the latter's radical ideas.

The War of the Aunties: Mimi vs. Aida

The birth certificate of this administrative rupture is called "Diomaye for President." What was intended to be a short-lived, three-month electoral coalition has been transformed, by the will of the Head of State, into a formidable, permanent political machine. By placing at its head the formidable Aminata Mimi Touré, a dissident of the former regime and a shrewd observer of the inner workings of the state, Diomaye Faye has erected a direct bulwark against Ousmane Sonko's APTE coalition, led by Aïda Mbodj. This is no longer a collaboration; it is a deliberate strategy of confrontation. The President has thus created his own armed force, freeing himself from the organic control of Pastef to exist independently.

Emancipation through dogma: The divorce from the West

Yet, while Diomaye distances himself from Sonko the man, he embraces the Sonkoist ideology more than ever to formalize his break with the West, presumed to be a source of depravity and neo-colonial coercion. This is emancipation through Sonko. By toughening penalties for homosexuality, reclaiming the last French military bases, and establishing the Thiaroye 44 massacre as an imprescriptible crime, Diomaye Faye saturates the space for sovereignty. Even more radical, the divorce from the IMF, at the risk of plunging the country into a period of financial turmoil, signals a desire to break the chains of dependency. But at what price? Sovereign debt, once international, is now captured by Ivorian savings. A neighborly sovereignty that shifts the problem without solving it.

A social assessment in a zone of turbulence

Behind this high-level political choreography, reality is growing impatient. Halfway through the term, where are the projects? The country is still searching for a major national infrastructure project bearing the signature of the Diomaye era. Meanwhile, the social front is in turmoil. Suspended family allowances leave the most vulnerable destitute, while the University mourns a death following clashes with law enforcement.

Anger is rising among healthcare workers and teachers: health and education officials are preparing to strike, while teachers are filing a complaint with the ILO regarding unfair salary deductions. Even the "Diomaye Plan for Casamance" is struggling to pacify the South, where the blood of our soldiers continues to flow in a lingering conflict that was thought to be over.

2029: From peaceful coexistence to harsh confrontation?

Today, Ousmane Sonko is theorizing about a "gentle cohabitation." But in the Senegalese political arena, gentleness is often just a transition to the storm. By breaking away from his mentor, Diomaye Faye is making his mark. The question is no longer hidden: will mentor and disciple ultimately clash in the March 2029 presidential election?

We remain true to our position: we welcome the effectiveness of this presidential stance in the face of external pressure, but we deplore the lack of social policies that should protect the most vulnerable. Senegal is not governed solely through symbols and diplomatic ruptures; it is governed through well-stocked bowls at lunch and dinner, social peace, and concrete prospects for sustainable and inclusive development.

The twilight of the diarchy: two heads, one hourglass

In March 2026, political arithmetic doesn't lie: Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko have already used up half their time with history. This concept of a "two-headed presidency"—one focused on sovereignty and the other on consolidating control of the state apparatus—is now reaching its structural limits. For two years, this tandem functioned like a double-edged engine, but by each pursuing their own direction, the two leaders are ultimately exhausting the very society they are supposed to lead.

The demonstration of this waning momentum is glaring. On the one hand, the Prime Minister has exhausted himself in the pursuit of ever more radical partisan legitimacy, erecting "soft cohabitation" as a shield against the erosion of power. On the other hand, the President has worn himself out trying to exist outside the purview of his mentor, creating parallel structures to avoid becoming a mere executor. The result? The country is adrift in a perilous limbo. One cannot govern a nation as one leads a nascent political party: half of the term has been consumed by ego adjustments and tactical positioning, while urgent priorities (family allowances for the poorest families, essential transportation and public works infrastructure, and lasting peace in Casamance) still await a single, clear impetus.

The era of two power brokers is over, because searching too hard ultimately leads to losing the people. In 2026, Senegal no longer needs a duo seeking balance, but a clear direction. If the second half of the term fails to produce a coherent leadership and tangible results beyond ideological posturing, history will remember that Diomaye and Sonko spent five years searching for each other, forgetting to find Senegal.

In 2029, voters will not be voting for a unifying slogan; they will be judging the remnants of a power-sharing presidency that will, by then, have exhausted all its resources. However, my support for the Pastef regime, which embodies the high hopes of young Senegalese people, remains, now more than ever. Unwavering, certainly; but resolutely critical.

Ousseynou Nar Gueye , Founder of Tract Hebdo (www.tract.sn) and President of Option Nouvelles Générations-Woorna Niu Dokhal