A string of high-profile departures from Pastef, including former allies of Ousmane Sonko, signals a deep fracture within Senegal’s ruling party following the establishment of a new presidential movement.
What began as isolated departures has rapidly escalated into a full-blown exodus. Veteran party members, youth leaders, and heads of public agencies are steadily abandoning Pastef. The growing list of resignations points to one undeniable conclusion: an irreparable rift has developed between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and National Assembly Speaker Ousmane Sonko — two figures who once stood as the pillars of Senegal’s political transition.
Their partnership, forged in the historic March 2024 election that ended decades of political dominance, once represented the promise of renewal for Senegal. Yet tensions between the presidency and the prime minister’s office had been simmering long before Ousmane Sonko was removed from his post as Prime Minister in May 2026. Now serving as Assembly Speaker, Sonko retains control of Pastef, while President Faye moves to consolidate his authority over state institutions.
The first major public sign of this split came in early June, when Urban Planning Minister Moussa Bala Fofana resigned — his third stint in the role — just days after Sonko publicly criticized ministers for failing to align with party directives. While Fofana denied acting on presidential instructions, his departure underscored the widening gap between Sonko and the administration.
Constitutional changes spark further turmoil
On July 3, President Faye took decisive action by announcing the creation of a new unified presidential party. This move effectively severed the remaining ties between the presidency and Pastef, the movement that propelled both men to power. The “Diomaye President” coalition is now mobilizing to welcome new members, signaling a decisive shift in Senegal’s political future.
