DAKAR — A defining moment in Senegal’s political landscape has unfolded. On Saturday, July 25, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye formally severed ties with his former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko by unveiling his own political party: Kiiraay, which means “shield” in Wolof.
Addressing an electrified crowd of supporters at the inaugural gathering, Faye declared, “Kiiraay is the majority party in this country.”
“Patriotes républicains” — Patriots of the Republic — serves as the party’s slogan. Faye outlined five core values underpinning Kiiraay: the Republic, ethics, transparency, brotherhood, and diligence.
Reflecting on past struggles and recent political fractures, the President likened his new venture to a farmer’s cycle of planting and harvest. “Public life has its sowing seasons and its harvests, but also its seasons of disappointment (…) Now, I stand in the fields. Fellow Patriots of the Republic, today we plant a new seed in Senegalese soil,” he proclaimed.
Party leaders revealed plans for a major founding congress following the summer rainy season. This gathering will shape the strategic direction of Kiiraay and finalize its leadership structure, marking a turning point in Senegal’s evolving political terrain.
