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Senegal’s president launches new political party amid shifting alliances

By sahel-express / July 26, 2026

Senegal’s president launches new political party amid shifting alliances

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has officially launched a new political party in Senegal, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape following his separation from former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, with whom he had long collaborated in the Pastef movement.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Senegal enters a new political chapter. After dismissing his former Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, on May 22, 2026, amid deep political disagreements and growing tensions within the executive branch, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye inaugurated his new party, the Patriotes républicains, in Dakar on July 25, 2026. This move comes as Senegal’s political landscape undergoes significant restructuring.

During the launch ceremony, the Head of State emphasized that the new political formation aims to unite citizens around core values of patriotism, community engagement, and national development.

The establishment of this party follows President Faye’s decision to step down from leadership of the Pastef party (Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité)—which holds a majority in the National Assembly—shortly after his presidential election. This step was taken to fulfill his commitment to separate the presidency from partisan leadership.

The creation of the new party represents the culmination of a restructuring process initiated in November 2025. The goal was to establish an inclusive political platform open to all components of the presidential majority.

Aminata Touré, General Supervisor of the Diomaye Président coalition, announced at the founding assembly that 437 parties and movements had agreed to merge into this new political formation.

The launch of “les Patriotes républicains” also follows the Constitutional Council’s July ruling that declared unconstitutional the legislative process behind the constitutional revision bill adopted by the National Assembly, based on a petition filed by the President himself.

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