Senegal PASTEF membership drive amid resignations

In late July 2026 the Party of African Patriots for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) pressed ahead with a nationwide membership‑card campaign that officials said was about 80 % complete. Party leader Ousmane Sonko continued his political tour while legal advisers vowed to challenge administrative bans on card‑selling gatherings. Shortly after, prefects in Mbour, Tivaouane and Dakar cancelled public rallies, citing security concerns.

By 23 July the party faced a wave of departures. Deputy Amadou Ba downplayed the exits as fewer than one hundred, but opposition sources reported more than 700 young members quitting within 96 hours. Ba warned that hostile online attacks on former members could damage the party’s image. Despite the tension, a large crowd gathered at the PASTEF headquarters in Kolda on 25 July for the official launch of the card‑selling drive, underscoring the party’s ongoing mobilisation ahead of its national congress.