DAKAR – A pivotal moment reshaped the Senegalese political scene this Saturday, July 25, 2026. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye formally solidified his political split from former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko by officially inaugurating his new political entity, “Kiiraay,” a Wolof term meaning “shield.”
Addressing an enthusiastic assembly of supporters at the inaugural gathering, Bassirou Diomaye Faye confidently declared, “Kiiraay stands as the majority party within this nation.”
The new political movement proudly adopts the slogan “Patriotes républicains” (Republican Patriots). President Faye articulated that Kiiraay‘s foundation rests upon five fundamental principles: Republic, ethics, transparency, fraternity, and diligent work.
Acknowledging the journey undertaken and the recent political tensions that culminated in this separation, the President employed an extended metaphor to convey his renewed commitment and vision:
He passionately stated, “Public life encompasses its periods of sowing and harvest, but also its seasons of disappointment. Here I am, therefore, in the fields. Dear Republican Patriots, today we entrust a fresh seed to Senegalese soil.”
Officials from the newly formed party have already declared plans for a major founding congress to convene following the summer rainy season. This crucial event will be instrumental in defining Kiiraay‘s strategic directions and formalizing its organizational structure, as Senegal’s political sphere embarks on an unprecedented reconfiguration.
Further developments are anticipated.
