Following a hiatus for the Grand Magal de Touba festivities, Ousmane Sonko, the president of Pastef, has recommenced his vigorous membership card sales campaign. This initiative, initially launched in Touba during the “48H Pastef” event, had previously taken him to various key locations including Bargny, Sébikotane, Khombole, and Bambey, followed by visits to Keur Madiabel and Mbacké. Each stop consistently witnessed fervent public engagement, mirroring the intense mobilization observed during his July 26 visit, which notably coincided with the official launch of the presidential party, Kiiraay.
This renewed phase of the campaign is strategically aligned with Pastef’s ambitious target: to enroll one million new members before October. Ousmane Sonko himself underscored this objective during his stop in Mbacké, where he specifically challenged the department to contribute significantly, even suggesting Mbacké alone could account for a million adherents. Earlier stages of the tour frequently resulted in rapid depletion of membership cards within hours, compelling the party to arrange swift resupplies to meet the overwhelming demand from the public.
The resumption of these activities unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political tensions in Senegal. This period is notably characterized by the definitive split between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as well as the emergence of the new presidential party, Kiiraay, which has seen several prominent Pastef figures depart in recent weeks. In response to these defections, the Pastef leader recently urged his supporters to refrain from commenting on the departures and instead maintain their focus on achieving the ongoing campaign’s critical objectives.