Ousmane Sonko’s pastef membership drive tour in senegalese towns

In a vibrant display of grassroots support, Ousmane Sonko launched his party’s membership card sales campaign with a packed stop in Bargny, marking the first leg of an intensive tour across key Senegalese towns. The visit drew massive crowds as the Pastef leader delivered a powerful address to local residents before continuing his journey to Sébikotane, Khombole, and Bambey.

The initiative, part of Pastef’s bold ambition to enroll one million members, takes on added significance as the party reflects on its hard-won rise to power. Ousmane Sonko paid tribute to fallen activists from Bargny, honoring those who sacrificed their lives during the turbulent years of political struggle that paved the way for the party’s historic victories.

Since assuming leadership of the National Assembly in late May, Sonko has shifted focus from government to party-building, a move that coincides with growing tensions between him and the President. His nationwide tour arrives on the same day the Head of State formally launched a rival party, underscoring the deepening rift within the former alliance that brought Bassirou Diomaye Faye to the presidency in April 2024. The split has already triggered a wave of resignations among senior Pastef officials, reshaping the political landscape.

The Bargny stop continued a series of memorial gestures Sonko initiated for activists and victims of the 2021-2024 unrest, including the pledge of a 100-million-CFA assistance fund for affected families.

The membership drive, which kicked off in early July, has already set records. In Mbacké, the campaign’s official launch saw 13,000 cards sold within hours, prompting an urgent restocking order in Dakar. With the October target of one million members in sight, the party is ramping up its grassroots mobilization across Senegal.