Senegal: Bassirou Diomaye Faye launches "KIIRAAY" and seals his break with Ousmane Sonko

Since his election in March 2024, Bassirou Diomaye Faye had been governing Senegal under the banner of PASTEF, the party founded by Ousmane Sonko, the tutelary figure of his victory. On Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Dakar, the Head of State broke this alliance by launching his own political formation, "KIIRAAY – Les Patriotes Républicains", during a constituent general assembly held in a capital hotel, according to Financial Afrik. The new party adopts the motto "La Patrie d'abord" and claims to focus on defending national interest, strengthening republican institutions, and consolidating the rule of law, the source specifies. This launch opens a phase of uncertainty for the ruling coalition: recomposition of alliances, redistribution of parliamentary support, and repositioning of executives previously affiliated with PASTEF. For investors and Senegal's economic partners, the stability of post-break governance will be closely scrutinized, particularly in the context of an IMF program and debt management. This split raises questions about the solidity of the Faye-Sonko duo that had driven the 2024 political transition: personal ambitions, strategic disagreements, or simple tactical reorganization? The single available source does not yet allow to determine the exact motivations or the resulting power dynamics within the state apparatus.