Dakar, Senegal (Running Africa) — Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is preparing to launch a new political party, a move that signals a widening rift with his former ally, Ousmane Sonko, and could reshape the country’s political landscape ahead of future elections.
A coalition supporting Faye announced that the president has appointed senior adviser Aminata Touré to lead efforts to establish the new political movement, marking a significant shift in Senegal’s governing alliance.
The decision follows months of growing tensions between Faye and Sonko, whose partnership propelled them to victory in the 2024 presidential election on a platform centred on political reform, economic transformation and stronger governance.
Although Faye remained a member of Sonko’s ruling African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) until recently, relations between the two leaders have steadily deteriorated following Sonko’s removal as prime minister in May. Sonko subsequently assumed the role of Speaker of the National Assembly, further altering the country’s political dynamics.
Since leaving the premiership, Sonko has emerged as a leading advocate for constitutional reforms, including a proposal that would prohibit a sitting president from simultaneously serving as the leader of a political party. While Senegal’s lawmakers approved the reforms, President Faye has opted to submit the proposed constitutional changes to a national referendum, allowing voters to make the final decision.
The political split comes at a critical time for Senegal, as the West African nation grapples with mounting economic pressures linked to previously misreported public debt, fiscal reforms and efforts to restore investor confidence.
Attention is also turning toward the 2027 local elections, which are widely expected to serve as a major test of public support for both Faye and Sonko following the breakdown of their political alliance.
Political analysts believe the emergence of a new party led by Faye could redefine Senegal’s electoral landscape, creating new alliances and intensifying competition within one of West Africa’s most closely watched democracies.
The evolving relationship between the president and his former political mentor is expected to remain a defining issue in Senegalese politics as the country prepares for the next phase of its democratic transition.
