President Bassirou Diomaye Faye unveils political movement as rivalry with Ousmane Sonko intensifies
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has officially launched his own political party, marking a major shift in the country’s political landscape and deepening his split with former ally Ousmane Sonko.
Faye unveiled the new party, Kiray (Republican Patriots), on Saturday as he seeks to strengthen his political base ahead of future elections.
The move comes after months of growing tensions between Faye and Sonko, who together swept to power in 2024 under the ruling Pastef party. The former allies are now widely expected to face each other in Senegal’s 2029 presidential election.
Support shifts to Faye’s new movement
Ahead of the party’s launch, several senior Pastef officials resigned to join Faye’s new political movement.
The president has also attracted members from the opposition Alliance for the Republic, including regional leaders and youth wing officials, expanding support beyond his former party.
The growing defections reflect the widening political divide between Faye and Sonko.
Disagreements led to political breakup
Relations between the two leaders deteriorated over disagreements on key government policies, including negotiations with the International Monetary Fund over financial assistance during Senegal’s debt crisis.
Earlier this year, Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister.
Despite the dismissal, Pastef retained its parliamentary majority, and Sonko was later elected President of the National Assembly.
Faye appointed Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as the country’s new prime minister in May. However, no Pastef members were included in the new Cabinet after Sonko announced his party would not participate in the government.
Former allies prepare for future political battle
Faye and Sonko campaigned together in 2024 on promises to tackle corruption, create jobs for young people and secure greater benefits from Senegal’s oil, gas and mineral resources.
Since taking office, those ambitions have faced growing economic challenges after the government discovered the previous administration had significantly underreported the country’s debt.
Political analysts believe the creation of Faye’s new party sets the stage for an intense rivalry that is likely to dominate local elections in 2027 and the presidential race in 2029.
