Written by: Badr Ahmed

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's announcement of his intention to establish a new political party represents the latest development in the country's political landscape. It reflects a notable shift in the nature of the relationship between power players amidst escalating disagreements with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, his most prominent political partner in reaching power during the 2024 presidential elections.

Senegal faces a new political phase

Fay said, during a meeting that included 306 mayors belonging to the presidential coalition, that he intends to establish a new party aimed at uniting political and popular forces supporting his reform program, emphasizing that the next stage requires a more organized political framework to support the implementation of the economic and institutional reforms he pledged since taking office.

In a practical step to launch the project, the President tasked former Prime Minister Aminata Touré with heading a committee responsible for preparing the organizational and political vision of the new party, and laying the foundations upon which it will be built, in preparation for its official announcement in the upcoming period.

This move comes at a time of increasing political tension in Senegal between Faye and Sonko, even though the two men belong to the same political camp, after they jointly fought the opposition battle against the previous regime led by former President Macky Sall.

The pace of constitutional and institutional reforms

Political reports indicate that the differences between the two sides revolve around the pace of constitutional and institutional reforms, the mechanisms of power management, in addition to disagreements regarding the distribution of powers within state institutions, which has raised questions about the future of the coalition that led the country to a new political phase after the recent elections.

Observers believe that establishing a new party could grant President Faye an independent political base that strengthens his influence within state institutions and provides him with a wider scope to implement his agenda away from internal disputes. Conversely, others warn that this move could deepen divisions within the ruling majority, especially if the disagreements with Sonko escalate into an open political conflict.

At the same time, the Senegalese government faces significant economic and social challenges, including combating unemployment, improving living conditions, and exploiting newly discovered oil and gas resources. These issues require political stability and consensus within the governing institutions.

As moves to establish the new party begin, the Senegalese street awaits to see if the project will form a starting point for restructuring the political landscape and strengthening the president's power, or if it will pave the way for a new phase of competition and divisions within the ruling camp, which could reflect on the course of reforms and political stability in the country.