Senegal President Launches New Party As Rift With Sonko Deepens

Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has launched his own political party, Kiray, deepening his political split with former ally Ousmane Sonko. The two leaders came to power together in 2024 but have since fallen out over policy and economic issues. With Sonko leading the ruling Pastef party and Faye building his own support base, their rivalry is expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 local elections and the 2029 presidential race.

Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has launched his own political party, deepening his growing political split with former ally and current National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko.
The launch of Faye's Kiray, or Republican Patriots, on Saturday marks a major shift in Senegal's political landscape. The two leaders rose to power together in 2024 under the Pastef party but are now building separate political bases ahead of a potential contest in the 2029 presidential election.

FORMER ALLIES TURN POLITICAL RIVALS

Faye and Sonko were once at the centre of Senegal's political opposition and campaigned together on promises of creating jobs for young people, fighting corruption and ensuring that Senegalese citizens benefit more from the country's oil, gas and mineral resources.
Their partnership helped them win power in 2024, raising hopes among many young Senegalese for major political and economic change.
However, their relationship has deteriorated over disagreements about policy and the direction of the government.
The latest development suggests that the political partnership that brought them to power has now largely broken down.

POLITICAL DEFECTIONS BOOST FAYE'S NEW MOVEMENT

In the weeks before the launch of Faye's new party, several Pastef officials reportedly resigned and moved towards the president's political camp.
Members of the opposition Alliance for the Republic have also joined the new movement, including regional leaders and members of its youth wing.
The defections could strengthen Faye's political organisation as he prepares for future elections and seeks to build a support base independent of Sonko's Pastef party.

DISPUTE OVER ECONOMIC POLICY

The growing disagreement between the two leaders has also been linked to major economic challenges facing Senegal.
One area of tension has been how the government should approach negotiations with the International Monetary Fund as the country struggles with a heavy debt burden.
Senegal's financial difficulties worsened after authorities discovered that the previous administration had significantly underreported the country's borrowing.
The revelation created additional pressure on the government and made it more difficult for Faye and Sonko to deliver some of the ambitious promises they made during the 2024 election campaign.

FAYE DISMISSED SONKO AS PRIME MINISTER

The political crisis between the two men eventually reached the government itself.
Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister earlier this year, although Sonko's Pastef party retained its strong majority in Parliament.
Sonko later became president of the National Assembly, giving him a powerful political platform despite his removal from the executive branch.
A new prime minister, Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, was appointed in May.
However, the new Cabinet was formed without ministers from Pastef after Sonko announced that his party would not participate in the government.
The decision effectively formalised the political separation between the two former allies.

2027 ELECTIONS COULD TEST THEIR SUPPORT

The rivalry is expected to become more visible during Senegal's local elections in 2027.
Those elections could provide the first major test of the strength of Faye's new political movement compared with Sonko's Pastef party.
The results could also influence alliances and political strategies ahead of the 2029 presidential election, when the two former partners are widely expected to face each other.
For supporters who backed the pair in 2024, the split could create uncertainty over the future direction of the political movement that brought them to power.

ECONOMIC PRESSURES RAISE THE STAKES

The political rivalry comes at a difficult time for Senegal.
The government faces a serious debt burden, while expectations remain high among young people who supported Faye and Sonko because of their promises of jobs, economic reform and greater transparency.
Senegal has also entered a new phase as an emerging oil and gas producer, increasing pressure on the government to ensure that natural resource revenues translate into better living standards.
The economic challenges mean that both Faye and Sonko will be under pressure to demonstrate that their competing political approaches can deliver results.

A NEW POLITICAL SHOWDOWN

Faye's decision to create his own party marks a significant turning point in Senegalese politics.
What began as a partnership between two leaders who shared a common political vision has evolved into an increasingly open rivalry.
With local elections approaching in 2027 and the presidential race expected in 2029, the former allies are now positioning themselves for a long-term political battle.
The coming years will determine whether Faye's new movement can successfully challenge Sonko's established Pastef party and whether their rivalry will reshape Senegal's political landscape.