President bassirou diomaye faye launches kiiraay party, reshaping senegalese politics

DAKAR – A pivotal moment in Senegalese political history unfolded this Saturday, July 25, 2026, as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye formally inaugurated his own political movement, « Kiiraay » – a Wolof term signifying ‘shield’. This significant act definitively marks his political divergence from former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.

« Kiiraay stands as the majority party in this nation, » President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared to an enthusiastic assembly of supporters during the inaugural gathering.

The new political formation proudly adopts the slogan « Patriotes républicains » (Republican Patriots). According to the Head of State, Kiiraay is founded upon five essential principles: the Republic, ethics, transparency, fraternity, and diligent work.

Acknowledging the journey traversed and the recent political tensions that culminated in this separation, the President articulated his renewed commitment through a poignant metaphor:

« Public life encompasses its periods of planting and harvesting, alongside its seasons of disillusionment (…) Here I am now, in the fields. Esteemed Republican Patriots, today we entrust a fresh seed to the Senegalese soil », he proclaimed.

Leaders of the nascent political entity have already announced plans for a major founding congress to convene once the summer rainy season concludes. This crucial event will be instrumental in defining Kiiraay’s strategic directions and formalizing its organizational structure, as the Senegalese political arena embarks on an unprecedented reconfiguration.