Senegal’s president launches new party amid growing political divide

In a bold political maneuver, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal announced the formation of a new political party on Friday, July 3rd, designed to unite all forces backing his administration. The declaration followed a four-hour meeting with 306 mayors from Senegal’s 14 regions, all members of the Coalition Diomaye Président.

The official statement from the coalition emphasized that this initiative aims to solidify the president’s political support base as power dynamics continue to shift within the state apparatus. To implement this plan, President Faye appointed Aminata Touré, the coalition’s supervisory general, to lead a committee tasked with drafting the organizational and statutory foundations of the new party in the coming weeks.

The coalition’s communiqué framed this move as a logical progression in its commitment, stressing that the future party must foster an organic unity around the president, particularly in anticipation of upcoming electoral challenges.

During the gathering, local officials reaffirmed their loyalty to the president’s agenda, praising his dedication to territorial equity by prioritizing local governance in public policy frameworks.

This political restructuring unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions between President Faye and his former ally, Ousmane Sonko. Sonko, who stepped down as Prime Minister in May 2026, now serves as President of the National Assembly, where his parliamentary majority grants him significant influence.

Their disagreement has intensified following the adoption of a constitutional reform by lawmakers on June 29th. The amendment includes provisions such as barring the president from leading a political party simultaneously, transforming the Constitutional Council into a Constitutional Court, and expanding Parliament’s powers.

At the heart of their dispute is the finalization process of this reform. While Sonko advocates for direct promulgation by the president, citing legal precedent, Faye insists on holding a referendum to allow citizens to weigh in directly—though no date has been set.