Senegal's President Faye launches new party, deepening rift with former ally Sonko
On Monday, President Bassirou Faye launched his new party, Kiiraay (also called the Republican Patriots), formalising his break with former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the PASTEF party. The launch followed a rally last Saturday in Dakar where Faye declared Kiiraay the "majority party" in the country. Faye had dismissed Sonko as prime minister in May, replacing him with economist Ahmadu Lo; Sonko then withdrew PASTEF from the government and was later elected speaker of parliament. The split stems from a power struggle, disagreements over economic policy and IMF talks, and a protest in Dakar over a proposed constitutional amendment that would bar a sitting president from leading a political party—a move PASTEF backed but Faye’s coalition opposed. For Nigerians, Senegal’s internal politics matter because the country is a key ECOWAS member, a contributor to regional peacekeeping, and a partner in trade and migration management; instability could affect regional security cooperation, influence jihadist threat dynamics in the Sahel, and impact Senegalese migrant communities in Nigeria. Consider how Senegal’s shifting alliances might influence ECOWAS decisions on security and economic integration, and stay alert to any shifts in regional cooperation or migration patterns that could affect Nigeria.