Ahead of the inaugural ordinary congress of the Parti des Patriotes Africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité (PASTEF), scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026, Secretary General Ousmane Sonko has released an extensive statement. This document meticulously traces the history of the movement and delineates the aspirations for the upcoming gathering.
In his address, the former Prime Minister adopts a dual role: that of the founder, recalling the party’s humble beginnings in 2014, established “without financial resources” or “influence networks,” and that of the astute strategist, who raises the fundamental question of the post-victory era. He asserts, “History teaches that political shifts can be neutralized if they lack a clear doctrine, robust organization, or a long-term strategy.”
Sonko’s tribune outlines a compelling narrative arc, extending from the widespread popular mobilizations of 2021-2024, which he characterizes as “one of the most intense periods in Senegal’s recent history,” right up to the June 2026 congress. He envisions this congress as a pivotal moment, marking the transformation “from a rupture movement to a fully organized party.” Delegates from national sections and the diaspora will be tasked with endorsing an ideological charter, a strategic orientation document, theses on the party, and a comprehensive general resolution.
The guiding principle of the text is the concept of sovereignty, which Sonko defines not merely as a slogan, but as “a method of governance.” This encompasses crucial areas such as natural resources, budgetary decisions, agricultural policy, the educational system, and Senegal’s standing on the global stage. He further integrates a cultural dimension, emphasizing the promotion of national languages, the reappropriation of history, mastery of technology, and a strong pan-African aspiration: to link national sovereignty with economic and scientific integration across the continent.
Published amid prevailing tensions within the executive branch and his own exclusion from the government, Sonko’s tribune also serves as a clear signal: the founder of PASTEF intends to exert significant influence over the party’s ideological direction, irrespective of institutional fluctuations.
