Senegal PM: A Case Of Misleading Meme
Senegal PM: A Case Of Misleading Meme
How the attribution of a 3-year-old quote to a Head of Government appointed less than two weeks ago seems to wrongly suggest a more conciliatory approach towards France.
Over the weekend, a social media meme gained traction, particularly on Facebook. The meme featured a quote attributed to Senegal's new Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, suggesting a softening of his stance towards France, the country's former colonial power. This raises the question: has Senegal's new leadership truly changed its tune on France?
Background
Ousmane Sonko, currently Senegal's Prime Minister, previously led the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics, and Fraternity (PASTEF) party.
However, the party faced a ban by former president Macky Sall for alleged incitement of violence. Following this, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the party's secretary-general, became their candidate in the recent elections.
With the endorsement of his mentor, Sonko, Faye secured a surprise victory in the first round, winning by a significant margin (54%). Both leaders have consistently emphasised prioritising Senegal's interests over maintaining what they term “neo-colonial ties” with France.
The Claim
In this context, a meme widely circulated on social media contained a quote attributed to the “Prime Minister,” seemingly indicating a more conciliatory approach towards France.
The quote reads: “France is not responsible for the misappropriation of public funds, for the incompetence of our leaders, incapable of identifying our priorities. It is not responsible for the theft of our resources, even though it benefits from it. All this is the responsibility of our incompetent, incapable, and non-patriotic leaders.”
Our investigation revealed that this quote originated from a longer speech delivered by Sonko in 2021, when he was still an opposition leader. The full video of the speech can be found on YouTube. This crucial detail is missing from the meme, leading to a significant misrepresentation of Sonko's stance.
Furthermore, the recent Senegalese elections took place in March 2024. President Faye was sworn in on 2nd April, with Sonko appointed Prime Minister the following day. Attributing a 3-year-old quote to the new Prime Minister, made during a different political context, is demonstrably misleading.
Context
Examining the complete 2021 speech provides essential context. While the meme excerpt suggests a conciliatory tone towards France, the full speech reveals a more nuanced picture.
Sonko's primary target was then-President Macky Sall, aiming to highlight his perceived failures in leadership. The core message centred on a critique of France's historical and ongoing influence in Senegal.
The opening lines of the speech make this clear: “It's high time France lifted its knee off our neck. Seven centuries of misery made up of human trafficking, colonialism, and today’s neo-colonialism... that's enough. It's high time France left us alone. It's high time France took example from its European neighbours.”
No Change in Stance
“The viral meme surrounding Sonko’s quote provides an example of the dangers of misinformation spreading online, particularly when taken out of context.”
There is no evidence to suggest that Sonko or President Faye have altered their stance towards France. The meme manipulates a quote from 2021, omitting the critical portion that openly criticises France.
While the new Senegalese leadership hasn't publicly engaged in confrontational rhetoric, President Faye did express openness to partnerships with all nations, including France. However, he emphasised that Senegal expects these partnerships to be based on mutual respect and benefit.
Additionally, he highlighted the government's commitment to transparency in managing natural resources, announcing plans for audits in the mining, oil, and gas sectors.
President Faye concluded his speech by stating, “Investor rights will always be protected, as well as the interests of the state and the people.” This statement suggests a pragmatic approach to resource management, seeking to balance foreign investment with Senegal’s national interests.
Note on this article
This article was first published by our sister platform Ukuri. Its headline has been modified for our purposes. You may read the original piece here.