The spokesperson for the Alliance for the Republic (APR), Alioune Badara Coulibaly, strongly criticized the evolution of the political debate in Senegal, denouncing a situation which he considers worrying for democracy.

In a statement sent to Seneweb, he draws a parallel with the regime of Abdoulaye Wade, referring to the time when some close to power presented themselves as unconditional defenders of the head of state.

According to him, a similar pattern is being repeated, but this time to the benefit of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.

"All the political debates skillfully maintained lately are plunging the country back into the atmosphere of the 2000s. We are reduced to constructing opinions, characterizing people and demonizing them under the fallacious pretext that we are debating in the interest of our national democratic project. Politicians, those of Pastef in particular, must reflect today on the meaning they give to contradictory debate, the lifeblood of democracy. From this point of view, we are not moving forward, we are moving backward by leaps and bounds," observes Mr. Coulibaly.

At the heart of the criticism is draft law no. 11/2026 amending articles L29 and L30 of the Electoral Code. Examined under emergency procedure in the National Assembly, this initiative is perceived by the opposition as an attempt to remove obstacles to the eligibility of the head of government.

Alioune Badara Coulibaly denounces a "tailor-made" law, which, according to him, calls into question the principle of equality before the law.

Thus, this law and the planned revisions to the internal regulations aim, according to him, to remove the last obstacles to the Prime Minister's eligibility for his full political rehabilitation.

"It is even said in some circles that the head of state, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the very one whom the citizens elected, is the man who stands up against the ambitions of his mentor. How paradoxical! It is often the opposite that occurs," denounces the APR official, who is also surprised by the supposed tensions at the top of the state.

Beyond these institutional issues, Alioune Badara Coulibaly deplores a political climate marked by recurring controversies and internal disputes.

"Their actions have a direct extension into the affairs of the State. For the proponents of this sordid law, regardless of the consequences, solid allies are found in all spheres of society, including in the press, to distract public opinion and citizens, thus plunging the country into useless and counterproductive chatter," he argued.

"The Senegalese are fed up with this debate. They are fed up with hearing high-ranking political officials from the ruling party haranguing them about the 2029 deadline. They are fed up with the controversies and internal squabbles," he says, pointing to a growing weariness among the public with debates deemed sterile and focused on the 2029 electoral deadlines.

According to him, the political scene is increasingly dominated by personal attacks and attempts at demonization, to the detriment of the exchange of ideas and concrete proposals.

"The evolution and maturity of our democratic project seem to surpass the quality of the men and women put forward by the regime in power. Too much space is given to mediocre and incompetent people who have no sense of the nation's best interests," he said.

Referring to the election of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in 2024, the APR spokesperson emphasized that the hopes raised by promises of change have, in his view, been slow to materialize. He accused the current government of prioritizing political confrontations over addressing citizens' concerns.

Alioune Badara Coulibaly warns against the risks of an escalation of political tensions, calling for a refocusing of the debate on national priorities and the general interest.