Senegal’s Faye has launched a new party, establishing a relationship with Sonko | Story

Dakar, Senegal Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has launched a new political party, establishing his relationship with his former partner Ousmane Sonko and launching a battle to control the reform movement that ousted them in 2024.

The formation of Kiiraay-The Republican Patriots on Saturday marked the end of the alliance between Faye and Sonko after months of conflict over the leadership of the government and Senegal’s economic crisis.

The new party was born out of Diomaye’s presidential coalition, which supported Faye’s successful 2024 presidential campaign. Speaking before supporters in Dakar, Faye portrayed Kiiraay as a group based on institutions rather than personalities.

“Kiiraay-The Republican Patriots is an open house,” said Faye, adding that the party will be led by “morality” and “transparency”.

He said the group will be open to “youths, women, farmers, fishermen, teachers, medical workers, those who are abroad” and all citizens willing to serve the Republic.

In another message to her supporters, Faye said political office should not be seen as a reward.

“Positions will be work and not rewards,” he said, adding that transparency should be one of the party’s priorities.

The installation ends a political conflict between the two men whose alliance has rocked Senegal’s political scene.

From partners to competitors

Faye and Sonko stood together through the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF).

Sonko, a former tax official, has become one of Senegal’s most controversial figures by campaigning against corruption, promising fiscal control and attracting strong support from young people frustrated by unemployment and the high cost of living.

After Sonko failed to stand in the 2024 presidential election, PASTEF nominated Faye as its candidate. Campaigning under the slogan “Diomaye and Sonko”, Faye won the presidency and later appointed Sonko as prime minister.

But the debate gradually started over the way the government operates, its economic policies and the way the governing bodies operate. The relationship has been strained as Senegal grapples with a previously undisclosed debt crisis, which has forced the government to grapple with tough financial decisions and renegotiate ties with international lenders.

The political crisis escalated in late May when Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister and dissolved the government. A few days later, Sonko announced that PASTEF would not take part in the new cabinet, deepening the division between former allies.

A test of political power

For Faye, Kiiraay represents an attempt to create an organization based on leadership and not on PASTEF’s political machinery.

It is unclear whether he can do so.

Much of Faye’s rise to power was closely linked to Sonko’s popularity and PASTEF’s international network. Therefore, the new party will be judged on whether it can galvanize the voters who supported Faye as Sonko’s successor.

The split has also raised many questions about the government’s ability to effectively manage the economic crisis and maintain its regional influence.

Kabir Adamu, founder of Beacon Consulting Ltd and a Nigerian security analyst who works in the Sahel, told Al Jazeera that the results could go beyond party politics.

“The expulsion of Ousmane Sonko has torn apart the ruling coalition, leading to political chaos.” With the president and the now-opposed head of parliament in crisis, Senegal is facing a dangerous period of constitutional paralysis and economic instability.

“The true basis of the PASTEF party’s unity is being tested, and the road to this country is uncertain. It also seems that the family problem will prevent President Faye from doing the work that ECOWAS expects of him.” Adamu said, referring to the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States.

For Sonko, the problem is different. Although he is no longer part of the government, he remains one of Senegal’s political figures and continues to command loyalty within PASTEF.

The emergence of two competing political camps leaves behind both men who claim to represent the reform agenda that helped bring them to power.

Great expectations

The split has come as Senegal faces economic challenges.

The government is working to restore confidence in the public finances after an audit revealed previously undisclosed debts under the previous administration. At the same time, Faye’s government is struggling to deliver on promises to fight corruption, create jobs and ensure Senegal receives the most from its oil, gas and mineral wealth.

Political divisions can make those problems even more difficult. Mubarak Aliyu, a political and security analyst in Nigeria who works in West Africa and the Sahel, Mubarak Aliyu, told Al Jazeera that the timing of the outbreak could have a major impact on the country’s economy.

“At a time when Senegal is facing a serious debt crisis, a time when political fragmentation may be the most important thing in the country.” it’s a mixed bag of signals, and this explosion gives it all,” Aliyu said.

For most Senegalese, however, the main measure of each camp is not political division but whether it can fulfill its promises of reform and change in their lives.

Benjamin Dwomoh-Doyen, CEO of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), told Al Jazeera that he hopes Senegalese leaders will put the country’s interests ahead of political conflicts.

“We hoped to end the conflict with unity, especially as we continue to promote a united country. Senegal has been demonstrating the stability of democracy in West Africa.

“The collapse of his ruling camp is regrettable and causes a distraction from the authority and stability of the region. For the unity of the country and the well-being of the Senegalese people, we believe that the leadership will prioritize more good than politics,” he said.