With the first ordinary congress of the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) just days away, scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026, Secretary-General Ousmane Sonko has issued a comprehensive statement. This publication details the movement’s journey and articulates the ambitious goals for the upcoming gathering.

In his address, the former Prime Minister adopts a dual perspective. He acts as the party’s founder, recounting its origins in 2014, established “without financial means” or “networks of influence.” Simultaneously, he assumes the role of a strategist, addressing the critical question of what comes after a political victory. “History teaches that political disruptions can be absorbed if they lack a clear doctrine, a robust organization, or a long-term strategy,” he asserts.

Sonko’s tribune outlines a narrative arc stretching from the popular mobilizations of 2021-2024, which he describes as “one of the most intense periods in Senegal’s recent history,” leading up to the June 2026 congress. He envisions this event as a pivotal moment, transitioning the movement “from a movement of rupture to a fully organized party.” Delegates from national sections and the diaspora will convene to adopt an ideological charter, a strategic orientation document, party theses, and a general resolution.

The central theme of the text is the concept of sovereignty, which Sonko defines not merely as a slogan, but as “a method of governance.” This encompasses critical areas such as natural resources, budgetary decisions, agricultural policy, the educational system, and Senegal’s standing on the global stage. He further integrates a cultural dimension, advocating for the promotion of national languages, the reappropriation of history, mastery of technology, and a pan-African ambition: to link national sovereignty with continental economic and scientific integration.

Published amidst executive tensions and his own removal from government, Sonko’s tribune also sends a clear message: Pastef’s founder intends to exert influence over the party’s ideological direction, regardless of institutional challenges.