Leaders of Senegal’s Kiiraay party met in Saint-Louis to strengthen organizational structures ahead of the 2029 presidential election, with officials emphasizing efforts to expand the party’s reach and support for President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s potential second term.
Ismaïla Kébé, director general of the Agence de développement et d’encadrement des petites et moyennes entreprises (ADEPME), visited Saint-Louis to reinforce Kiiraay’s local networks, aiming to create a “tool” for the president to vulgarize his results and secure a second mandate. The trip focused on mobilizing women and youth through training, formalization, and financing—part of a broader strategy to solidify the party’s base ahead of the 2029 election.
Kiiraay’s Organizational Push in Saint-Louis
Kébé’s visit to Saint-Louis, a key regional hub, underscored the party’s emphasis on grassroots expansion. The director general highlighted the need to massify and unify efforts across the department, aligning with the president’s vision to make Kiiraay the country’s largest political force. Cheikhouna Guèye, the party’s Saint-Louis coordinator, described the trip as an opportunity to engage militants and leaders, stressing the importance of creating neighborhood and village cells before establishing formal structures.
The initiative reflects a strategic focus on local engagement, with Kébé noting that the president needs an instrument to accompany his results and secure a second term. This aligns with the party’s broader plan to strengthen its presence in all departments of Senegal, as outlined by President Faye.
ADEPME’s Role in Supporting Women and Youth
ADEPME, under Kébé’s leadership, is central to Kiiraay’s efforts to empower women and young entrepreneurs. The agency’s “3F” approach—formation (training), formalisation (legal registration), and financement (funding)—aims to equip these groups with the tools to launch businesses. Guèye praised the initiative, noting that despite limited resources, militants from Saint-Louis’s five communes traveled to participate in the discussions.
The focus on economic empowerment aligns with the party’s broader messaging, positioning Kiiraay as a vehicle for social and financial mobility. Kébé emphasized that this work would allow the president to have the largest party in Senegal, framing the 2029 election as a critical milestone.
Partisan Expansion and Electoral Strategy
Kiiraay’s 2029 ambitions are tied to its organizational growth. The party’s leadership has called for the creation of local cells and community sections, with Kébé stating that these structures would allow the president to win elections at all levels.
Guèye described the Saint-Louis meeting as a “satisfaction” for the party’s grassroots efforts, noting that militants had worked through self-sacrifice to advance the president’s goals.
What This Means for Senegal’s Political Landscape
The Kiiraay party’s focus on 2029 signals a long-term electoral strategy, with immediate efforts to consolidate power in key regions like Saint-Louis.
The party’s reliance on ADEPME underscores the intersection of economic policy and political strategy in Senegal. By linking entrepreneurship with civic engagement, Kiiraay aims to position itself as both a developmental and a governing force.
Next Steps and Uncertainties
With the 2029 election approaching, Kiiraay’s immediate priority is solidifying its presence in all departments.
For now, the focus remains on grassroots mobilization. As Kébé stated, We work through self-sacrifice to allow the president to have the largest party.
