Senegal: Ousmane Sonko rallies supporters in Keur Madabel as President Faye's new party symbol draws criticism

Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko held a large rally in the town of Keur Madabel in Senegal's Nioro department, drawing a crowd of supporters who purchased membership cards for his PASTEF party. The event is part of Sonko's nationwide tour aimed at reaching two million active militants by the end of 2026, a goal he set in December 2025.

Separately, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s recently launched political party, branded KIIRAAY, has sparked debate over its name and logo. Critics note that the Wolof term “Kiiraay” is linked to spiritual forces and that the party’s emblem—a figure under an umbrella surrounded by laurels—appears to emphasize individual protection rather than collective unity. The controversy raises questions about the president’s shift from a nonpartisan head of state to the leader of a partisan organization.