Mbacké recently hosted the esteemed leader of the “Patriots” movement. Ousmane Sonko, the influential president of Pastef, made a significant visit to officially launch the party’s critical membership card sales campaign. This operation is paramount for Pastef as it strategically prepares for upcoming electoral challenges, with the 2029 presidential election already a key focus in Senegal’s political landscape. Addressing an engaged assembly of militants, the party chief initially focused on fostering unity.

Observing existing tensions among certain local officials, including Doctor Fall Mbaye, Deputy Ahmadou Lö, and Moustapha Diop (whom he specifically named), Ousmane Sonko firmly urged them to reconcile. “I have done this everywhere I’ve been. Everyone must join hands. This is not the time for disputes. Unity must prevail,” he emphasized, reiterating that cohesion is a strategic imperative for the party’s success in African current affairs. Following this important clarification, he lauded the remarkable enthusiasm generated by the card sales in Mbacké since its initial announcement. “Today, well before 4 PM, all 13,000 cards dispatched here were purchased. We had to place a new order with Dakar,” Ousmane Sonko proudly declared. He further noted that the surge in demand even caused technical saturation on the online membership platform, underscoring the widespread interest in the movement.

Building on this impressive success, the Pastef leader set an ambitious target: to enroll one million members solely within the Mbacké department by October, the campaign’s deadline. “I am confident that the Mbacké department alone can generate this million members,” he proclaimed to widespread applause. Beyond mere mobilization, Ousmane Sonko was keen to guide his troops’ discourse and issue a clear warning to adversaries, urging his militants to prioritize composure. “Do not engage in conflict with anyone. Do not respond to any provocation. If peace prevails in Senegal, Pastef will sweep every election in this nation. No election can escape its grasp,” he asserted. He also encouraged militants to concentrate on their core work and disregard “those who hold no genuine responsibility, who have no support base, and who lack a political party.”