Triumphant walk through suburbs: Ousmane Sonko’s unshaken popularity in Senegal

Dakar’s suburbs witnessed an electrifying display of public support as Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef party and President of Senegal’s National Assembly, embarked on a grassroots tour across key areas including Guédiawaye, Pikine, Keur Massar, and Rufisque.

Despite stepping down from government duties and ongoing political tensions with the Head of State, Sonko’s popularity remains unwavering among the masses. His journey took a poignant turn when he paid a solemn tribute to a late party activist, Djiby Mbaye—a former political prisoner who suffered illness during incarceration under the previous regime.

Everywhere his convoy passed, jubilant crowds erupted in spontaneous cheers, lifting Sonko onto their shoulders in triumphant celebration. While many already acclaim him as the frontrunner for Senegal’s 2029 presidential race, the outpouring of adoration was occasionally interspersed with chants directed at President Diomaye Faye, underscoring the deepening rifts at the highest levels of government.

The tour continues to sweep through other strongholds of Dakar’s suburbs and the city of Thiès, where crowds continue to gather in massive numbers. Further insights into the dynamics of this mobilization will be shared as developments unfold.