Cheikh Tidiane Youm says Serigne Moustapha Sy financially supported Ousmane Sonko and Pastef officials

Cheikh Tidiane Youm, a political official of the Party for Unity and Rally (PUR), says Serigne Moustapha Sy Al Makhtoum provided discreet financial support to Ousmane Sonko and certain Pastef officials. He made the remarks during a programme broadcast on 7TV and hosted by Maïmouna Ndour Faye.

According to the MP, the assistance was provided on several occasions, particularly during periods he described as difficult in the Pastef leader’s political journey. He also says party officials facing difficulties in meeting family obligations received cash envelopes handed over in the name of the leader of the Moustarchidines wal Moustarchidaty.

A claimed intermediary role

Cheikh Tidiane Youm says he personally acted as an intermediary in delivering some of this assistance. He did not identify the people who allegedly received it. The information provided includes no detailed amounts, specific timeframe or independent confirmation of the payments by Ousmane Sonko, Pastef or Serigne Moustapha Sy.

The PUR official also believes that this material support would no longer create any obligation. He attributes the current distance between the two figures to Ousmane Sonko and says Serigne Moustapha Sy is primarily awaiting a gesture of recognition. This is Cheikh Tidiane Youm’s assessment.

A political context already marked by tensions

According to the reported information, relations between the two men have been described as strained since the March 2024 presidential election. During the campaign, Cheikh Tidiane Youm warned against electing a president “in someone else’s shadow”. Since then, no Pastef delegation has attended the Moustarchidines’ annual conference held during the Gamou, according to the same source.

However, these contextual elements alone do not establish the existence, nature or terms of the financial support mentioned. Cheikh Tidiane Youm’s statements therefore remain, at this stage, claims attributed to their author.