The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has officially launched his new political formation, “Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains”, marking a new step in the recomposition of Senegal’s political landscape after his split with the PASTEF party, led by his now-ex-mentor Ousmane Sonko.
Announced during an assembly general meeting held at a hotel in the city center, the new party adopts the motto “La Patrie d'abord”, affirming an orientation centered on defending national interests, strengthening republican institutions, and consolidating the state of law.
In the Wolof language, “Kiiraay” means “what protects”, a choice presented by the initiators as the symbol of a political formation destined to accompany the President’s governance project and federate forces favorable to his vision of transforming Senegal.
Following the assembly, delegates unanimously elected Bassirou Diomaye Faye to the party’s presidency, marking a change in his political position after leaving the leadership of PASTEF at the beginning of his presidential term.
A resolution read by Aminata Touré, General Supervisor of the former coalition Diomaye Président, states that the creation of Kiiraay results from the merger of 437 parties, movements, and associations united around a common project aiming to support the reforms undertaken by the head of state and the country’s development ambitions.
Beyond its political scope, the birth of this new formation is closely watched by international partners, investors, and development actors. In a context where Senegal continues to implement its Vision Sénégal 2050 strategy, stability in institutions and readability of governance remain crucial factors in reinforcing market confidence, attracting investments, and consolidating international partnerships.
The launch of Kiiraay thus opens a new sequence in Senegalese politics, likely to redefine the balance within the presidential majority as well as opposition, ahead of upcoming elections, while influencing the framework in which future economic and institutional reforms will be inscribed.