Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has begun moves to establish a new political party, in what appears to be a decisive step away from his former ally, Ousmane Sonko.
A coalition backing the president revealed in a statement late Friday that Faye had tasked senior adviser Aminata Touré with leading a committee charged with creating the new political platform.
The development is widely seen as the strongest indication yet that the relationship between Faye and Sonko has broken down irreparably.
Growing distance from Pastef
Although Faye has remained a member of the ruling Pastef since assuming office, tensions between the two leaders had been mounting for months before the president removed Sonko from the position of prime minister in May.
Since then, Sonko has taken over as Speaker of the National Assembly and has spearheaded a series of constitutional reforms aimed at overhauling Senegal’s political system.
One of the key proposals would bar a sitting president from simultaneously holding leadership of a political party.
Constitutional reforms face referendum
The proposed amendments received parliamentary approval last week. However, rather than signing them into law, Faye opted to put the reforms before voters in a national referendum.
The government has yet to announce a date for the poll.
Political observers expect the referendum to serve as a major test of public support for both Faye and Sonko as competition between the two camps intensifies.
Power struggle unfolds amid economic pressures
The widening political divide comes as Senegal faces mounting economic challenges following revelations that the previous administration understated the country’s debt burden.
The rivalry is also unfolding ahead of the 2027 local elections, which are expected to provide the first clear measure of the electoral influence of both leaders.
Analysts say the creation of a new presidential party could dramatically reshape Senegal’s political landscape, alter existing alliances and redefine power dynamics within the country’s ruling elite.
