Senegal Deputy Amadou Ba Attacks President Faye Over ‘Fitna’ Remarks

Deputy Amadou Ba of the Pastef party responded on Facebook to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s use of the Wolof phrase “Sa fitna,” which many interpreted as a jab at outgoing Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. Ba said the true dangers to Senegal are twofold.

He described an “economic fitna” caused by officials he accuses of fifteen years of predatory management of public resources, the concealment of debt and the politicisation of accountability. He also warned of a “political fitna” involving manipulation of the electoral calendar to favour a single political formation, the targeting of opponents, and calls for national reconciliation without justice or reparations. Ba criticised the government’s handling of the economy and its reliance on what he termed “political transhumance,” arguing that these practices revive old‑regime tactics and threaten stability.

The deputy’s statements echo broader tensions ahead of upcoming elections, highlighting concerns over governance, debt transparency and the political future of Senegal.