Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye launched a new political party named Kiiraay-The Republican Patriots on Saturday, formalising his split with former ally Ousmane Sonko and setting the stage for a major political power struggle amid the country’s severe public debt crisis.
The formal launch took place during a constitutive general assembly in Dakar where 437 responsables voted unanimously to place President Faye at the head of the new organization. Aminata Touré, supervisor general of the coalition, read the founding resolution before the gathered political figures, calling the merger an unprecedented moment in Senegalese political history where leaders from various parties, movements, and professional associations joined forces around the head of state.
From Allies in PASTEF to Bitter Rivals
The creation of Kiiraay-The Republican Patriots marks the definitive rupture of an alliance that upended Senegal’s political establishment during the 2024 presidential election. Faye and Sonko previously rose to prominence together through the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity, known by the acronym PASTEF. Because Sonko was unable to stand in 2024, the party backed Faye under the campaign slogan Diomaye is Sonko
, leading to an election victory and Faye subsequently appointing Sonko as prime minister.
Tensions mounted steadily over governance style, economic policy, and how to manage renewed negotiations with international lenders following an audit that uncovered previously undisclosed public liabilities. The friction peaked when Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister and dissolved the government. Sonko’s party subsequently refused to take part in a newly formed cabinet under Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, cementing the division while Sonko retained his position as president of the National Assembly via PASTEF’s commanding legislative majority.
Ideological Framework and Party Principles
Addressing supporters in Dakar, Faye emphasized that his new movement is designed to be an open vehicle centered on institutional integrity rather than individual personalities. The party aims to draw support from a broad coalition of citizens committed to serving the republic.
Faye also stressed that public office must serve the public interest rather than personal gain, declaring that responsibilities will be duties and not rewards
while underlining transparency as a core governing principle. Allied organizations have quickly moved to flesh out the party’s ideological framework. The Senegal En Mouvement vers l’Excellence party, led by Industry and Commerce Minister Dr. Serigne Gueye Diop, released a manifesto welcoming the presidential initiative as a strategic instrument for national refoundation. The manifesto outlines a doctrine combining operational pragmatism, a sovereign foreign policy paired with global openness, and a focus on domestic resource transformation particularly across mining and gas sectors.
Defections and the Shadow of a National Debt Crisis
In the weeks leading up to the official launch, defections from PASTEF began reshaping the political map. Several regional leaders, members of the youth wing, and figures from the opposition Alliance for the Republic abandoned their previous affiliations to align themselves with Faye’s movement in the wake of the worsening debt burden.
Both leaders initially campaigned on promises to generate jobs, combat corruption, and secure a greater share of revenue from oil, gas, and mineral wealth. Delivering on those pledges has grown increasingly difficult after officials discovered that the previous administration had concealed billions of dollars in borrowing leaving public finances under severe strain as the government navigates complex discussions with international financial institutions.
Regional Repercussions and What Lies Ahead
The creation of Kiiraay formalizes a profound domestic fracture that outside observers warn could carry significant regional consequences.
“The dismissal of Ousmane Sonko has torn the ruling coalition asunder, creating a seismic political crisis. With the president and the now-opposition parliamentary leader at an impasse, Senegal faces a dangerous period of legislative paralysis and economic instability. The very foundations of the PASTEF party’s unity are being tested, and the path forward for the nation is shrouded in uncertainty. It is also likely that this domestic challenge will prevent President Faye from exercising the responsibilities ECOWAS expects of him.”
Kabir Adamu, founder of Beacon Consulting Ltd and security analyst, via Al Jazeera
This political showdown between the former allies is expected to play out across local elections scheduled for 2027 before culminating in a direct contest during the 2029 presidential race where Faye and Sonko are widely anticipated to run against each other.
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