Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has launched a new political party, Kiiraay, following his high-profile fallout with his former mentor and ex-Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
Faye unveiled the party on Saturday during a gathering of supporters in Dakar. The name Kiiraay, a Wolof word meaning “protection” or “shield,” carries the slogan “Republican Patriots.”
Addressing a packed assembly, Faye said the new party was founded on the principles of “republic, ethics, transparency, fraternity and work.”
Hundreds of supporters who could not gain entry into the hotel conference venue gathered outside in the heat, waving signs and wearing scarves bearing the words “Vive Diomaye.”
The launch comes months after the relationship between Faye and Sonko, who previously belonged to the Pan-Africanist party Pastef, deteriorated over policy disagreements and the direction of the government.
Pastef’s electoral victory in 2024 propelled Faye to the presidency, after Sonko was barred from contesting the election due to a defamation conviction. Faye subsequently appointed Sonko as prime minister.
However, disagreements over issues including Senegal’s high public debt and economic policies eventually led to a breakdown in their relationship. Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister on May 22.
Sonko remains the leader of Pastef, which controls 130 of the 165 seats in Senegal’s National Assembly, while several Pastef officials and activists have recently resigned from the party to join Faye’s political camp.
Faye’s supporters believe the creation of Kiiraay could give the president greater freedom to pursue his reform agenda.
Ibra Faye, a 54-year-old economist and financial engineer, said he was hopeful the president would now be able to implement some of the changes promised during the 2024 campaign.
“After two years in power, we realise that the requested changes were simply not possible under the current setup of his party,” he said.
Meanwhile, Faye declared Kiiraay to be the majority party in Senegal, although the new political movement has yet to face an electoral test.
The president’s communication team said the party would hold its formal congress after the country’s rainy season.
The launch also marks a significant political shift for Faye, who owes much of his rise to power to Sonko, his former political ally and mentor. Sonko had been widely expected to become president before he was prevented from contesting the 2024 election.
The political split between the two men has reshaped Senegal’s governing landscape, with Faye now seeking to build an independent political base while Sonko continues to lead the dominant Pastef party.
