Senegal's President Faye launches new party, cementing ruling camp split

DAKAR, July 26 - Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has launched a new political party, formalising his break with former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the ruling Pastef party that swept him to power in 2024.

• Faye unveiled his Kiiraay — Republican Patriots party at a gathering in the capital Dakar on Saturday, describing it as "the majority party in this country". Kiiraay means "shield" in the local Wolof language.

• Faye and Sonko, once the twin faces of Senegal's anti-establishment movement, have been engaged in a months-long power struggle.

• Faye dismissed Sonko in May, but Sonko later became speaker of the National Assembly and remains the leader of Pastef, which retains a large majority in parliament.

• Senegal is grappling with a crisis stemming from the revelation of misreported debt under the previous government. REUTERS