What happened?
The AFP spokesperson, Mbaye Dione, says he met with the population in Bambey and Diourbel departments, denouncing growing poverty and social difficulties. He accuses the State Summit of diverting attention from Senegalese people's problems. ## Why it matters for Senegal
The situation is getting worse, and the institutions are being weakened. Mbaye Dione says that the population is facing many challenges, including poverty, lack of infrastructure, and difficulties in accessing basic services. He believes that these problems should be the top priority for the authorities. ## What comes next?
The political confrontation between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko is not a real break. Mbaye Dione thinks that this media confrontation is more of a political show than a real disagreement. He believes that this 'war' is mainly aimed at diverting the attention of the Senegalese people from their economic and social difficulties. The AFP spokesperson thinks that the citizens want concrete answers to their problems, such as their purchasing power, employment, education, or healthcare, rather than political confrontations. ## A severe criticism of the institutional functioning
Mbaye Dione also talks about recent episodes in the institutional life. He mentions the debates around the constitutional revision project, the tensions between different institutions, and the threats of a motion of censure that have fueled the current political news. According to him, these confrontations show a political crisis that weakens the republican institutions even more. He regrets that the politicians spend more time on power struggles than on finding solutions to the daily problems of the population. ## The Diomaye party launch minimized
Mbaye Dione is also asked about the creation of the new party led by Bassirou Diomaye Faye. According to L’observateur, he minimizes the impact of this initiative. In his opinion, it is not a major political event but rather a normal evolution in the political life of Senegal. He thinks that the Senegalese people today want concrete results rather than the multiplication of political formations. ## The debate on the next local elections
The interview also addresses the perspective of the next local elections. Mbaye Dione says that the AFP remains fully engaged in preparing these elections. According to him, his party has a long experience in politics and wants to maintain its presence across the entire national territory. He assures that the training led by Moustapha Niasse is ready to face all the upcoming electoral challenges. ## The opposition invited to reorganize
The mayor of Ngoundiane also thinks that the opposition parties should learn from their recent failures. The Senegal national football team lost 3-2 to Belgium on July 1, 2026, which further strengthens the criticism of the team’s performances. Moustapha Niasse, the coach of the national team, said that his team is ready to face all the upcoming electoral challenges.
