After a hiatus of several weeks, necessitated by the revered Grand Magal de Touba festivities, Ousmane Sonko, the esteemed leader of Pastef, has recommenced his vigorous membership drive. This initiative, which began with an official launch in Touba during the “48H Pastef” event, had previously seen him visit numerous locations including Bargny, Sébikotane, Khombole, Bambey, Keur Madiabel, and Mbacké. Each stop along this tour consistently drew significant crowds, demonstrating robust public engagement, notably on July 26th, a day that also marked the inauguration of the presidential party, Kiiraay.
This renewed push is integral to Pastef’s ambitious objective of enrolling one million new members before October. Ousmane Sonko himself underscored this goal during his visit to Mbacké, where he articulated a particularly bold aspiration for that department, suggesting it alone possessed the potential to contribute a million adherents to the party’s ranks. Earlier stages of the campaign frequently experienced rapid depletion of membership cards, compelling the party to swiftly arrange for resupplies to meet the overwhelming demand from enthusiastic supporters.
The resumption of this campaign unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political tension. This period is notably characterized by the definitive estrangement between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, alongside the emergence of the new presidential party, Kiiraay. The latter’s launch has coincided with the departure of several prominent Pastef figures in recent weeks. In response to these defections, the party’s head recently called upon his activists to refrain from commenting on the departures and instead maintain unwavering focus on the ongoing campaign’s objectives.
This renewed push is integral to Pastef’s ambitious objective of enrolling one million new members before October. Ousmane Sonko himself underscored this goal during his visit to Mbacké, where he articulated a particularly bold aspiration for that department, suggesting it alone possessed the potential to contribute a million adherents to the party’s ranks. Earlier stages of the campaign frequently experienced rapid depletion of membership cards, compelling the party to swiftly arrange for resupplies to meet the overwhelming demand from enthusiastic supporters.
The resumption of this campaign unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political tension. This period is notably characterized by the definitive estrangement between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, alongside the emergence of the new presidential party, Kiiraay. The latter’s launch has coincided with the departure of several prominent Pastef figures in recent weeks. In response to these defections, the party’s head recently called upon his activists to refrain from commenting on the departures and instead maintain unwavering focus on the ongoing campaign’s objectives.
