President Bassirou Diomaye Faye delays Senegal local elections as Kiiraay party claims mayoral majority

The Kiiraay party, launched by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in July 2026, says it has secured the support of more than half of Senegal’s mayors. In an interview with BBC Afrique, former prime minister Aminata "Mimi" Touré affirmed that the party aims to win a parliamentary majority if early legislative elections are called and to dominate the municipal elections scheduled for 2027. She stated, “Our party already has more than half of the mayors.”

Amid pressure from opposition groups and civil society to set a date for the local elections, President Faye has chosen to postpone them. He argues that holding the first local vote without the former ally Ousmane Sonko and his Pastef party would be politically risky and could jeopardise his legitimacy after the split that created Kiiraay. The postponement is presented as a strategic move to avoid a potential defeat that would undermine his administration’s credibility.

Analysts note a gap between the party’s rhetoric and the everyday reality for Senegalese citizens, who face rising living costs despite the government’s claims of economic growth. The ongoing debate highlights the challenges facing the new ruling formation as it seeks to consolidate power ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.