Olivier Boucal calls on Diomaye Faye to resign
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Senego
Former Senegalese minister Olivier Boucal is calling on President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to resign and then run again under his own party. He believes Faye should assess his personal electoral weight after coming to power with Ousmane Sonko's support, according to remarks reported by xalimasn.
Former Senegalese minister Olivier Boucal called on Sunday 8 November 2026 for President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to resign, create his own party and run in a new presidential election. During the programme “L'Entretien” on Dakaractu, the official from the Mouvement national des cadres patriotes (MONCAP) said this approach would allow the head of state to assess his personal electoral weight and obtain legitimacy independent of Ousmane Sonko's, according to Senego, citing remarks reported by xalimasn.
Olivier Boucal said that patriotic activists had voted for Bassirou Diomaye Faye at Ousmane Sonko's request and that the Pastef leader's support had played a role in the March 2024 victory. He described Faye's remaining in power while, in his view, developing an independent political direction as “usurpation”, an assessment that does not constitute a judicial decision.
The position comes after Olivier Boucal publicly backed Ousmane Sonko on 23 May 2026, following the latter's dismissal as prime minister, and after Boucal left the government on 2 June. It also comes after criticism of the presidential power in recent weeks, notably from Fadilou Keïta on 26 October and Cheikh Oumar Diagne on 1 November.
