Faye establishes party as political alliance with Sonko breaks apart

Key points

• President Bassirou Diomaye Faye introduced Kiiraay-The Republican Patriots in Dakar on Saturday, formalising his separation from former ally Ousmane Sonko.
• Kiiraay emerged from the Diomaye President coalition, which backed Faye’s 2024 presidential bid.
• Faye said the organisation would prioritise institutions, ethics and transparency and include citizens from varied social and professional groups.
• In late May, Faye removed Sonko from the premiership and replaced the government; Sonko subsequently said PASTEF would stay out of the new cabinet.
• Faye and Sonko now head rival political groupings competing to claim the reform programme that brought them to power.
• The government is confronting undisclosed public liabilities while facing demands to address debt, employment, corruption and the management of natural-resource wealth.
• The rupture occurred as Senegal sought to rebuild confidence in public finances and make difficult economic decisions.