Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye begins new political party push as split with Sonko deepens

Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye (right) sacked his former ally and prime minister, Ousmane Sonko, setting up a new rivalry. (Photo: Patrick Meinhardt/AFP/Getty Images)

By Mwangi Maina
Tuesday, July 7, 2026

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Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has begun preparations to launch a new political party, signalling a formal split from former ally Ousmane Sonko and a major realignment in the country's politics ahead of future elections.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has begun preparations to launch his own political party, in the clearest sign yet that his alliance with former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has broken down.

A coalition backing the president said Faye had tasked senior adviser Aminata Touré with leading a committee to establish the new political movement.

The move signals a decisive split from the ruling Pastef party, which swept to power last year on a joint reform platform led by Faye and Sonko.

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Parliament approved the constitutional changes last week, but Faye declined to sign them into law immediately, instead referring the package to a national referendum.

Authorities have not yet announced a date for the vote.

The referendum is expected to become the first major political contest between Senegal's two most influential leaders since their alliance collapsed.

The growing rivalry comes as the country grapples with mounting economic pressures following revelations that the previous administration understated Senegal's public debt, complicating fiscal reforms and undermining investor confidence.

Attention is also turning to the 2027 local elections, which are widely seen as the first electoral test of support for both Faye and Sonko since their political split.

If Faye proceeds with establishing a new political party, it would mark one of the most significant realignments in Senegalese politics in recent years, reshaping the country's ruling coalition and potentially redrawing political alliances ahead of future elections.