Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye launches Kiiraay party, formalising split with Ousmane Sonko

Kiiraay party Bassirou Diomaye Faye Ousmane Sonko PASTEF Senegal politics

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye inaugurated a new political party, Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains, at a packed assembly in Dakar on 25‑26 July 2024. The launch, held in a capital‑city hotel (reported as the King Fahd Palace), officially marked the rupture between Faye and his former ally Ousmane Sonko, who had served as prime minister until his dismissal in May 2024 and now leads the PASTEF party as President of the National Assembly.

Faye presented Kiiraay as an “open house” guided by ethics, transparency, fraternity and work, with the slogan “Republican Patriots”. The Wolof name Kiiraay means “protection” or “shield”. The new party aims to gather supporters from across society – youth, women, farmers, fishermen, teachers, health workers and the diaspora – and to become the dominant political force in Senegal.

The formation of Kiiraay follows mounting economic challenges, undisclosed public‑debt revelations and renewed engagement with international lenders, and it is expected to reshape the political competition ahead of the 2027 local elections and the 2029 presidential race.

Entities

Bassirou Diomaye Faye · Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains · King Fahd Palace · Ousmane Sonko · PASTEF (African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] President Faye dismissed Ousmane Sonko as prime minister and dissolved the government in May 2024. antiguatribune.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.odatv.com · jamaicainquirer.com · www.pressafrik.com · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The PASTEF coalition holds 130 of the 165 seats in Senegal's parliament. www.odatv.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.pressafrik.com · +1 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The launch of the Kiiraay party formalised the split between President Faye and former prime minister Ousmane Sonko. antiguatribune.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.odatv.com
[● 6 SOURCES] After his dismissal, Ousmane Sonko was elected chair of Senegal's National Assembly. antiguatribune.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.odatv.com · jamaicainquirer.com · www.pressafrik.com · +1 more
[● 3 SOURCES] President Bassirou Diomaye Faye launched a new political party called Kiiraay‑The Republican Patriots in Dakar. antiguatribune.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.odatv.com
[● 6 SOURCES] Senegal's public debt was projected to reach 119% of GDP by the end of 2024. www.odatv.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.pressafrik.com · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The International Monetary Fund suspended a $1.8 billion credit programme for Senegal because of undisclosed public debt. www.odatv.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.pressafrik.com · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The launch formalised the split between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former ally Ousmane Sonko. antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.odatv.com · www.pressafrik.com · +3 more
[● 6 SOURCES] President Bassirou Diomaye Faye launched a new political party named Kiiraay – The Republican Patriots. antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.odatv.com · www.pressafrik.com · +1 more
[● 9 SOURCES] Faye described Kiiraay as an “open house” guided by ethics and transparency. antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.odatv.com · www.pressafrik.com · +4 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Kiiraay is described as an “open house” guided by ethics and transparency. antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · samacharnama.com · +1 more
[● 10 SOURCES] Ousmane Sonko was dismissed as prime minister by President Faye in May 2024 and later elected president of the National Assembly. samacharnama.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · kagonma-info.com · +5 more