Senegal enters a new political chapter. Following the dismissal of former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on May 22, 2026, amid deep political disagreements and rising tensions within the executive branch, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye inaugurated his new political party, the Patriotes républicains, in Dakar on July 25, 2026. This move signals a major reshaping of Senegal’s political landscape.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, the President emphasized that this new political formation aims to unite citizens around core values of patriotism, grassroots engagement, and commitment to Senegal’s development.

The creation of the new party follows President Faye’s decision to step down from the leadership of the Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité (Pastef) party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly. This decision came shortly after his election to the presidency to uphold his commitment to separating the presidential role from party leadership.

The initiative marks the culmination of a restructuring process launched in November 2025 to establish a new political platform open to various components of the presidential majority.

During the constituent assembly, Aminata Touré, the General Supervisor of the Diomaye Président coalition, announced that 437 parties and movements had agreed to merge into this new political formation.

This development comes after the Constitutional Council ruled in early July that the procedure leading to the adoption of the constitutional revision law by the National Assembly was unconstitutional, following a challenge by the President.