Pastef-Les Patriotes, Senegal’s ruling party, concluded its first national congress in Dakar on Sunday, June 7, at the Dakar Arena. The event marked a pivotal moment for the party, founded in 2014, as it seeks to redefine its political strategy under the leadership of its president, Ousmane Sonko.
The two-day gathering served as a platform for Sonko to outline a three-pronged political roadmap: strengthening the party’s ideological foundations, challenging the executive branch, and securing the electoral calendar. Addressing a crowd of loyal supporters, Sonko reflected on the party’s evolution since the November 8 rally, declaring, « The Pastef remains true to its values and emerges from this process stronger. » While acknowledging challenges, he dismissed personal setbacks and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to its core causes: fighting corruption, advocating for justice, renegotiating contracts, and preserving its parliamentary majority.
On governance, Sonko took direct aim at the presidency, criticizing what he described as « plots and schemes » undermining Senegal’s institutions. « This country has suffered enough from conspiracies, » he declared, warning against the instrumentalization of state bodies for personal ambitions. « Even if the president seeks to satisfy political ambitions, we must not allow institutions to be weakened. »
In response to concerns about institutional instability, Sonko framed the issue through the lens of democratic choice: « There is no institutional crisis in Senegal. The people have chosen one leader for the presidency and another for the National Assembly. »
Parliamentary lock on local elections
Sonko firmly closed the door on any delay to local elections, invoking both political resolve and constitutional constraints. « Pastef will never agree to postpone local elections, » he stated, emphasizing the legal hurdles required: « To do so, the executive must pass a law through the National Assembly. »
The congress concluded with a clear signal: Pastef is positioning itself for a new phase of political reconfiguration and governance in Senegal.
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