Ousmane sonko resumes membership card drive after magal

Following a hiatus of several weeks for the Grand Magal de Touba celebrations, Ousmane Sonko, the leader of Pastef, has recommenced his vigorous membership card sales campaign. The initiative, initially inaugurated in Touba during the ’48H Pastef’ event, has seen the Pastef chief return to the active pace he established from the outset. Prior to this recent resumption, the campaign trail had already generated significant enthusiasm in locations such as Bargny, Sébikotane, Khombole, Bambey, Keur Madiabel, and Mbacké. Each stop witnessed powerful displays of public engagement, mirroring the intense mobilization observed during his July 26 visit, which notably coincided with the launch of the presidential party Kiiraay.

This renewed push is integral to Pastef’s ambitious target of enrolling one million new members before October. Ousmane Sonko himself underscored this goal during his earlier visit to Mbacké, where he articulated a particularly bold objective for that department alone, asserting that Mbacké could potentially contribute a million adherents. The sheer volume of interest during previous legs of the campaign often led to membership card stockouts within hours, compelling the party to arrange swift replenishments to keep pace with the overwhelming demand.

The recommencement of the Ousmane Sonko membership drive unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political tension. This period is defined by the confirmed schism between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, coupled with the recent unveiling of the new presidential party, Kiiraay. The latter development has notably precipitated the departure of several prominent Pastef figures in recent weeks. In response to these resignations, the party leader recently urged his loyal militants to refrain from commenting on the defections and instead maintain unwavering focus on the ongoing campaign’s objectives.