Dakar, Senegal — Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has launched a sharp critique of U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of destabilizing the global order in the wake of the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
Speaking on Thursday at an international conference on sovereignty in Dakar, Sonko argued that the military and political objectives behind actions against Iran have largely failed, while triggering widespread instability.
“Reducing Iran’s ballistic capabilities has not been achieved. Forcing Iran to abandon all nuclear programmes, both civil and military, is not an objective that has been achieved,” Sonko told an audience of policymakers, scholars, and international observers.
He added that the fallout from the conflict has plunged the world into unnecessary turmoil. “None of the objectives has been met, and yet the world has been plunged into chaos that nothing can justify,” Sonko said. “Mr Trump is not a man of peace; he is a man who destabilises the world.”
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The conference, hosted by French political scientist Pascal Boniface, focused on global sovereignty and shifting power dynamics. Boniface echoed the theme of transformation in international relations, pointing to the rising influence of the Global South.
“Westerners have not lost power, they have not lost wealth; they have lost their monopoly on them,” Boniface said. “There is room for everyone, and at the global table there should not be people who are seated at the table and others who are kept at a distance.”
Sonko used the platform to call for greater unity among African nations, urging leaders across the continent to consolidate their influence and reduce reliance on external powers. He emphasized that Africa’s future depends on collective action and stronger regional cooperation.
He also highlighted the continent’s youthful population as a critical driver of change. Describing young people as a “force to be mobilized,” Sonko stressed that meaningful sovereignty cannot be achieved without their active participation.
The remarks come amid growing calls across Africa and other parts of the Global South for a more balanced international system, with increased representation and autonomy in global decision-making.
Analysts say Sonko’s comments reflect a broader shift in tone among emerging leaders, who are increasingly vocal in challenging Western policies while advocating for a multipolar world order.
