After a hiatus spanning several weeks, observed for the Grand Magal de Touba celebrations, the president of Pastef has recommenced the vigorous pace set for the membership drive. This initiative originally launched with a grand inauguration in Touba, coinciding with the “48H Pastef” event. Since then, the campaign tour has made stops in Bargny, Sébikotane, Khombole, and Bambey, followed by Keur Madiabel and Mbacké. Each location witnessed significant mobilization, mirroring the enthusiasm seen during the July 26 visit, which notably occurred on the same day the presidential party Kiiraay was unveiled.

This latest phase of the campaign is strategically aligned with Pastef’s ambitious goal: to enlist one million members before October. This target was emphatically reiterated by Ousmane Sonko himself during his visit to Mbacké, where he specifically challenged the department to contribute a substantial portion, declaring that Mbacké alone could potentially generate a million new adherents. Earlier stages of the tour frequently experienced rapid depletion of membership cards within hours, compelling the party to arrange swift resupplies to accommodate the overwhelming demand.

This resumption unfolds amidst a charged political atmosphere, characterized by the now-public rift between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Furthermore, the launch of the new presidential party, Kiiraay, has recently prompted the departure of several key figures from Pastef. In response to these defections, the party leader recently urged his activists to refrain from commenting on the departures and instead maintain their focus on the ongoing campaign’s objectives.