Senegal’s Faye to form new party

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is planning to set up his own political party, a coalition supporting him said on Friday.

Faye has instructed senior adviser Aminata Toure to establish a task force to create the party, according to a statement from the pro-Faye coalition.

Faye has until now been a member of the ruling PASTEF party, led by Ousmane Sonko. Sonko was prime minister until Faye dismissed him in May, following months of tensions between the two leaders over governance reforms and economic policy.

Sonko has since become speaker of the National Assembly, where he has been pushing for constitutional reforms that would, among other things, bar a sitting president from serving as leader of a political party.

Lawmakers voted in favour of the changes last week, but Faye has decided to put them to a national referendum. It is unclear when the referendum will take place.

The political upheaval is unfolding as Senegal struggles to grapple with a crisis stemming from the revelation of misreported debt under the previous government. The debt, which was significantly higher than officially stated, has put pressure on the country’s finances and complicated Faye’s reform agenda.

Both Faye and Sonko are preparing for local elections scheduled for 2027. The elections are seen as a test of their political influence, with Faye seeking to build his own base of support outside PASTEF.

Faye was elected president in March 2024 with Sonko’s backing. Their alliance has since unravelled, marking a significant shift in Senegal’s political landscape.

SOURCE: AFP