During a high-level exchange with French geopolitician Pascal Boniface, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko delivered a detailed response to interpretations of his political stance, reaffirming his vision of African sovereignty.
Challenging a “Western lens”
While acknowledging being ranked among influential global figures, Sonko criticized what he described as a persistent “Western lens” in analyzing African political movements.
He argued that such interpretations tend to reduce African struggles to symbolic influence rather than recognizing them as part of broader historical processes of emancipation and economic sovereignty.
“Gatsa Gatsa” as a symbol of resistance
A key moment of his intervention focused on the slogan “Gatsa Gatsa,” which he defended as a legitimate expression of resistance rather than a call to violence.
He drew parallels with the French Revolution, noting that powerful and radical slogans have historically accompanied struggles for freedom.
Rejecting labels and asserting ideology
Sonko also rejected labels such as “ambivalent” or “populist,” arguing that they serve to undermine the coherence of his political project and divert attention from core issues like sovereignty.
He called for greater “intellectual sovereignty,” emphasizing the need for African societies to produce their own analytical frameworks and narratives.
A broader geopolitical debate
The exchange reflects wider global debates on Africa’s role in an emerging multipolar world, highlighting tensions between different visions of development, sovereignty, and international relations.
