Senegal’s president bassirou diomaye faye unveils kiiraay party after split with ousmane sonko

In a decisive move on Saturday in Dakar, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal inaugurated his new political party, Kiiraay – Les Patriotes républicains, signaling a definitive break from his former mentor and ex-Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The party’s name, derived from the Wolof term meaning « protection » or « shield », emerged from the transformation of the Diomaye Président coalition, which propelled Mr. Faye to the presidency in 2024.

By Marguerite Ndongo — Political and Security Analyst