What began as scattered departures has rapidly escalated into a full-blown exodus. Within Pastef, the once-unified movement behind Ousmane Sonko is witnessing an unprecedented wave of resignations—senior leaders, youth coordinators, and public agency directors are leaving in droves. The political landscape of the Sénégal is being reshaped as this crisis deepens.

From allies to adversaries: the unraveling of a political duo

What once appeared as an unbreakable alliance has now fractured irreparably. Ousmane Sonko, President of the National Assembly and party leader, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic, were the architects of the historic 2024 transition. Together, they embodied the promise of change. Yet, their partnership has crumbled following Sonko’s removal from the Prime Minister’s office in May 2026—a move that underscored months of mounting tensions between the Presidency and government.

Despite his new role in the Assembly, Sonko retained control of the party, while Faye moved swiftly to consolidate state power. The rift became undeniable when Moussa Bala Fofana, a three-time Urban Planning Minister, resigned in early June. Sonko had publicly criticized certain ministers for deviating from party directives, prompting Fofana to defend his actions as independent of presidential influence—though he maintained respect for his former mentor.

A constitutional shift that ignited the crisis

On July 3, Faye announced the establishment of a new presidential party, a decisive step that formalized the rupture between the Head of State and the founding movement. The coalition “Diomaye Président” has since been mobilizing to absorb the wave of dissidents.