In a significant political shift in Sénégal, the Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS) has officially called on its supporters to reject the upcoming constitutional referendum. This move signals a strategic alignment with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye as he faces off against his former ally, Ousmane Sonko, and the Pastef party.
President Diomaye Faye recently announced a national consultation to let the citizens of Sénégal decide the fate of a controversial new law. This legislation, pushed forward by Ousmane Sonko’s Pastef movement and recently passed by the National Assembly, seeks to significantly increase parliamentary authority while curbing the powers of the head of state.
By siding with the President’s decision to hold a referendum but urging a “no” vote on the actual reforms, the PDS—the party of former leader Abdoulaye Wade—is making a calculated move that highlights the deepening fissures within the ruling coalition.
The evolution of the PDS-Diomaye connection
The relationship between these political forces has been complex. During the July 2022 legislative elections, the PDS joined forces with Ousmane Sonko’s Pastef to create a united front against then-President Macky Sall. This cooperation reached a peak just before the March 2024 presidential election. After Karim Wade was disqualified from the race, the PDS threw its weight behind the Sonko-Diomaye ticket.
This endorsement was crucial in helping Bassirou Diomaye Faye secure a broader electoral mandate. At the time, the alliance was framed as a defense of the rule of law and a way to defeat the government’s candidate, Amadou Ba. However, for the PDS, it was also a reaction to the Macky Sall administration’s role in sidelining Karim Wade, who remained in exile hoping to maintain political relevance through a new executive branch.
A proximity born of necessity
Despite their shared electoral victory, a lasting partnership never materialized. Following the election of Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the PDS was notably absent from the new administration’s leadership. The party chose to maintain its autonomy, distancing itself from both Pastef and the immediate presidential inner circle.
Political observers in Dakar suggest that the PDS is attempting to find its footing after a difficult period following their loss of power years ago. By moving closer to the current center of authority, they hope to regain political influence. This strategy became even more evident during the late 2024 legislative elections when the PDS surprisingly allied with Macky Sall’s APR, formerly their fiercest rival.
Blocking the path of Ousmane Sonko
The current friction between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko has handed the PDS a new opening. The party is now backing the President’s decision to hold a referendum as a way to circumvent the Pastef-led parliamentary agenda.
In a strongly worded statement, the PDS urged its members and the wider Senegalese public to “block” these reforms. The party claims that the proposed constitutional changes are driven solely by Ousmane Sonko’s personal ambitions and a “thirst for power” that threatens the democratic foundations of the Republic.
This sentiment is echoed across much of the opposition. While they may not be formal allies of Diomaye Faye, many political actors are united by a common desire to curb Sonko’s influence. The radical tone of the Pastef leader has increasingly isolated him from other political forces who now view him as a barrier to national consensus.
A tactical rather than strategic alliance
While the PDS and civil society groups are currently aligned with the President on the referendum issue, experts warn this does not mean they have joined his camp permanently. The opposition is primarily reacting against what they perceive as a power grab by the legislature. This temporary convergence is aimed at restoring the traditional Senegalese model of dialogue and political balance.
For Bassirou Diomaye Faye, this reconfiguration is an opportunity. As he faces growing internal criticism from within Pastef, the President is looking to solidify his own political base. Strengthening his “Diomaye Président” coalition appears to be his primary strategy as he looks toward the future.
The rift within the original winning ticket seems deeper than ever. Within Pastef circles, the President is increasingly viewed with suspicion, with some even using the word “betrayal” to describe his recent political maneuvers. This evolving landscape suggests that the era of the Sonko-Diomaye duo may be coming to an end as new alliances take shape in Sénégal.
