Senegal enters a new political chapter. After dismissing former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on May 22, 2026, following deep political disagreements and rising tensions within the executive branch, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye officially launched his new political party, the Patriotes républicains, in Dakar on July 25, 2026. This move signals a reshaping of Senegal’s political landscape.

Speaking at a special ceremony, the President emphasized that the new party aims to unite citizens around values of patriotism, community engagement, and national development.

The launch follows President Faye’s decision to step down as leader of the Pastef party (Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité) after his election to the presidency. This step was taken to honor his commitment to separating the presidential role from party leadership.

The creation of this new political force comes after a restructuring process initiated in November 2025. The goal was to establish an inclusive party open to all components of the presidential majority.

During the founding assembly, Aminata Touré, the coalition’s general supervisor, announced that 437 parties and movements had merged to form the new party.

This initiative follows a Constitutional Council ruling in July that declared unconstitutional the parliamentary process used to adopt the constitutional reform law, based on a petition filed by the President himself.

The new party’s emergence underscores the shifting political dynamics in Senegal, particularly the growing separation between President Faye and his former ally, Ousmane Sonko, who currently serves as President of the National Assembly.