The Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l’éthique et la fraternité (Pastef) will hold its first elective national congress on June 6–7, 2026, in Dakar. The central agenda item: choosing the party’s next leader. In the run-up to the vote, the party’s High Authority for Regulation (Harp) has just released the list of eligible candidates—Ousmane Sonko, the current Prime Minister, stands alone as the sole nominee for his own reelection.
Seven other hopefuls saw their submissions rejected by the Harp. The rejected files were either incomplete—missing identification or membership cards—or contained procedural irregularities that could not be addressed after the May 20 deadline. Sonko’s uncontested candidacy sets the stage for a decisive party leadership renewal, with major policy directions expected to take shape during the congress.
The upcoming leadership vote is more than an internal reshuffle; it serves as a strategic preparation for Senegal’s 2027 local elections and the 2029 presidential race. Under Sonko’s stewardship, Pastef aims to cement its political vision and mobilize supporters ahead of these pivotal ballots.
