Following weeks of campaign suspension during the Grand Magal of Touba celebrations, Pastef party leader Ousmane Sonko has returned to the field to resume his intense mobilization efforts. The campaign, which kicked off officially in Touba alongside the 48H Pastef event, has already taken him through Bargny, Sébikotane, Khombole, Bambey, Keur Madiabel, and Mbacké—each stop drawing massive crowds and near-instant sellouts of party membership cards.
The renewed drive aligns with Pastef’s goal of surpassing one million members by October, a target Sonko emphasized during his stop in Mbacké. At that time, he even suggested the department alone could generate a million new adherents, underscoring the urgency of the expansion.
His return comes amid escalating political tensions, particularly the public split between Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as well as the recent launch of the new ruling party, Kiiraay. That development prompted a wave of departures from Pastef’s ranks in recent weeks. In response, Sonko urged supporters to disregard the defections and refocus on the current membership campaign.