Senegal President Faye Opens New Political Chapter With ‘Kiiraay’ Party

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has officially launched his new political party, Kiiraay: Republican Patriots, opening a new chapter in his political career after separating from the political movement that helped bring him to power.

The name Kiiraay, which means “protection” in Wolof, was officially unveiled on Saturday afternoon, July 25, with Faye presenting the word as a principle that will guide the party’s actions and political mission.

According to the Senegalese president, the new party will focus on protecting the Republic of Senegal, defending its institutions and preserving the values inherited from previous generations while passing them on to future generations.

Faye’s decision to establish Kiiraay comes after he departed from PASTEF: The Patriots, the political party led by his former political ally and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.

The relationship between Faye and Sonko has been closely watched since the two men rose to power together. Faye was initially backed by PASTEF after Sonko was prevented from contesting the 2024 presidential election, eventually winning the presidency in a landslide.

However, the political partnership between the two men has since faced growing differences, with Faye now moving to establish a separate political identity through Kiiraay.

While announcing the new party, Faye said its mission would be to rebuild hope among Senegalese citizens from different ethnic and social backgrounds and place the interests of the country above political divisions and personal ambitions.

He also called for unity, saying Senegalese citizens should remember that political disagreements should not permanently destroy the bonds between them.

“We may be enemies one day, but we remain brothers every day,” Faye said, stressing the need for the country to remain above political divisions and individual ambitions.

The creation of Kiiraay could mark an important shift in Senegal’s political landscape, particularly as Faye seeks to establish his own political movement separate from the party that played a central role in his rise to the presidency.

The new party’s name also reflects the message Faye wants to send about his political vision. By choosing Kiiraay, meaning “protection,” the president appears to be placing the protection of Senegal’s republican institutions, national values and social unity at the center of his new political project.

For Faye, the launch represents more than the creation of another political party. It is an attempt to build a new political identity while maintaining a message of national unity at a time when Senegal’s political landscape continues to change.

The coming months will show whether Kiiraay can develop into a major political force and whether Faye’s new movement can maintain the support that helped him win the presidency while navigating his increasingly separate political path from Sonko and PASTEF.