Power struggle in Senegal’s pastef party amid mass resignations

What began as isolated exits has rapidly escalated into a sweeping exodus. Veteran party figures, rising leaders, and heads of public agencies have been resigning in droves from Pastef. The unfolding crisis points to an irreparable split between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko, Speaker of the National Assembly and party leader.

Once united by the historic March 2024 political shift, the two men formed the backbone of Senegal’s new leadership. Yet their alliance has crumbled following Sonko’s removal from the Prime Minister’s office in May 2026—a move that capped months of escalating tensions between the Presidency and the Prime Minister’s team. Though Sonko retained control of Pastef while assuming his new parliamentary role, Faye has since moved aggressively to consolidate authority within the state apparatus.

The widening divide reached a critical juncture in early June when Minister Moussa Bala Fofana tendered his resignation from the Urban Planning portfolio—a position he had held through three consecutive governments. Sonko had publicly criticized ministers for failing to align with party directives, while Fofana denied acting on presidential orders, instead expressing continued respect for his former mentor.

Constitutional shake-up fuels political earthquake

On July 3, President Faye unveiled plans to establish a unified presidential party, a decision that has further cemented perceptions of a definitive split with the movement that propelled him to power. The coalition ‘Diomaye Président’ has since mobilized to absorb incoming defectors and reshape the political landscape.