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President Bassirou Diomaye Faye launches Kiiraay party, ending alliance with Ousmane Sonko in Senegal
On 25 July 2026 in Dakar, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye formally launched a new political party, Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains. The party, whose name means “protection” in Wolof, is presented as a major force defending the Republic, its institutions, ethics and transparency. The launch marks a definitive split with former ally Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef party, which continues to hold a parliamentary majority of 130 of 165 seats. Several ministers and supporters joined Kiiraay, and the constitutive assembly was attended by 437 delegates, including members of the Senegalese diaspora in Canada who voiced full backing. On the same day, Sonko addressed supporters in Bambey, reiterating his opposition to any postponement of the local elections scheduled for January 2027 and urging respect for the electoral calendar. The split creates two power centres – the executive under President Faye and the legislative under Sonko as speaker – shaping the political landscape ahead of upcoming reforms and local elections.
Entities
Aminata Touré · Bassirou Diomaye Faye · Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains · Kiiraay-Les Patriotes Républicaines · Ousmane Sonko · Pastef · Pastef (Patriots Africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l’éthique et la fraternit · Senegal
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The launch marks a split with Ousmane Sonko, whose Pastef party retains 130 of 165 seats in the National Assembly. www.ecofinagency.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ministers Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, Déthié Fall and Moustapha Guirassy and the SÉME party have joined Kiiraay.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The launch involved significant financial spending for media coverage on channels such as TFM and Sen TV.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A constitutional amendment proposed by Pastef to bar the president from party leadership was struck down by the Constitutional Council on 9 July 2026. www.ecofinagency.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Former Pastef coordinators Alassane Diallo and Dr Badou Diarra defected to Kiiraay. www.pressafrik.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Kiiraay aims to defend the Republic, its institutions, ethics and transparency. www.ecofinagency.com · www.sudquotidien.sn
- [DISPUTED] President Bassirou Diomaye Faye launched the Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains party on 25 July 2026 in Dakar. ivorian.net · www.sidwaya.info · www.ecofinagency.com · information.tv5monde.com · www.sudquotidien.sn · +1 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains is presented as the majority party of Senegal. ivorian.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains is presented as the majority party in Senegal. ivorian.net · www.sidwaya.info
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Senegalese diaspora in Canada expressed support for Kiiraay at its launch.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pastef, led by Ousmane Sonko, holds 130 of the 165 seats in the Senegalese National Assembly. www.ecofinagency.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Several ministers and political figures from the presidential coalition have joined Kiiraay. ivorian.net · www.sidwaya.info