Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has launched a new political party, the Republican Patriots, formally solidifying his rift with long-time ally and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
The two leaders rose to power as a unified ticket in the 2024 presidential election, when Faye served as secretary-general of Sonko’s PASTEF party. However, relations deteriorated sharply over economic strategy and executive control, culminating in Faye dismissing Sonko as Prime Minister.
The launch of the Republican Patriots follows a series of high-profile defections from PASTEF to the President’s camp.
While PASTEF leadership has sought to minimise the impact of these departures, Sonko, who now serves as Speaker of the National Assembly, backed constitutional reforms designed to prohibit a sitting President from simultaneously leading a political party.
Although parliament approved the measure, Faye has opted to put the decision to a public referendum. A date for the vote has yet to be announced, with both camps turning their focus toward the upcoming 2027 local elections.
–ChannelAfrica–
