Dakar witnessed a historic political shift on Saturday, July 25, 2026, as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye formally ended his alliance with former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko by launching his own political movement, Kiiraay—meaning ‘shield’ in Wolof.
Addressing a jubilant crowd at the party’s inaugural gathering, Faye declared, “Kiiraay is Senegal’s majority party.”
The new formation, Kiiraay, adopts the slogan ‘Patriotes républicains’ and is built on five core principles: Republicanism, ethics, transparency, fraternity, and hard work.
Reflecting on the political journey that led to this break, Faye used a vivid agricultural metaphor to describe the transition: “Public life has its seasons—sowing, reaping, and disappointment. Now, I stand in the fields. Today, we plant a new seed in Senegal’s soil.”
The party’s leadership announced plans for a founding congress after the summer rains, where strategic guidelines and leadership structures will be finalized. This event marks a pivotal moment as Senegal’s political landscape undergoes a dramatic reshaping.
