Ousmane Sonko restarts membership drive after magal
After a pause of several weeks for the Grand Magal de Touba celebrations, Ousmane Sonko, the president of Pastef, has resumed the vigorous pace of his party’s membership drive. This crucial campaign initially launched with significant fanfare in Touba, coinciding with the “48H Pastef” event. Since its inception, the tour has seen remarkable engagement across various locations, including Bargny, Sébikotane, Khombole, Bambey, Keur Madiabel, and Mbacké. Each visit has been characterized by enthusiastic gatherings, mirroring the strong turnout witnessed during his July 26 appearance, which notably occurred on the same day the presidential party Kiiraay was introduced.
This renewed push is integral to Pastef’s ambitious target of enlisting one million members before October. This goal was personally underscored by Ousmane Sonko during his visit to Mbacké, where he specifically highlighted the potential for that single department to contribute a million new adherents. The overwhelming enthusiasm during earlier stages of the tour often led to rapid depletion of membership cards within hours, necessitating swift resupply efforts by the party to meet the consistent demand from the public.
The resumption of the campaign unfolds amidst a tense political climate in Senegal. This period is marked by a clear divergence between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, alongside the recent launch of the new presidential party, Kiiraay. The formation of Kiiraay has prompted the departure of several key Pastef figures in recent weeks. In response to these shifts, Sonko recently called upon his supporters to refrain from commenting on the defections and instead maintain unwavering focus on the ongoing campaign objectives.
This renewed push is integral to Pastef’s ambitious target of enlisting one million members before October. This goal was personally underscored by Ousmane Sonko during his visit to Mbacké, where he specifically highlighted the potential for that single department to contribute a million new adherents. The overwhelming enthusiasm during earlier stages of the tour often led to rapid depletion of membership cards within hours, necessitating swift resupply efforts by the party to meet the consistent demand from the public.
The resumption of the campaign unfolds amidst a tense political climate in Senegal. This period is marked by a clear divergence between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, alongside the recent launch of the new presidential party, Kiiraay. The formation of Kiiraay has prompted the departure of several key Pastef figures in recent weeks. In response to these shifts, Sonko recently called upon his supporters to refrain from commenting on the defections and instead maintain unwavering focus on the ongoing campaign objectives.
