Senegal's PASTEF party holds its first-ever conference amid internal challenges

Ahmed Salem

This week, the Pastef-Patriots party is holding its first national conference since its founding in 2014, in a significant political and organizational milestone aimed at outlining its future and defining its direction in light of the changes taking place on the Senegalese political scene.

The capital, Dakar, is hosting the conference, with the participation of delegates from various regions of Senegal and from Senegalese communities abroad.

The participants are expected to discuss the party's political strategy, renew its leadership structures, and determine its position within the new political landscape of the country.

The conference comes at a time when the party is facing internal challenges related to differing views between its most prominent leaders, President Basiru Diomae Faye and Ousman Sonko, regarding the management of public affairs and the mechanisms for exercising power.

Accuracy in choosing the timing of the conference

Analysts believe that the conference was decided to be held at a very important time, just days after the formation of the new government, headed by Prime Minister Ahmadou Amine Mohamed Lo, a government in which the PASTEF party chose not to participate despite having the largest political bloc within the National Assembly.

These developments coincided with changes at the top of the power structure, as President Basiru Diomae Faye terminated Ousmane Sonko’s duties as Prime Minister on May 22, before the latter was elected a few days later as President of the National Assembly, succeeding the resigned Malik Ndiaye.

These political shifts highlighted the differences between the two men regarding the management of the state and the organization of power, despite their continued affirmation of their affiliation with the “Pasteve” party.

Forming the new government

Following the announcement of the new government lineup, Osman Sonko justified the party's decision not to join the executive branch by citing disagreements with the head of state during the consultations that preceded the formation of the government, particularly regarding the role of the parliamentary majority within the executive branch and some of the political options presented.

In remarks made in Dakar on Tuesday, Sonko denied any intention of an institutional confrontation with the government.

He confirmed that the party would not submit a motion of no confidence against her. He also called for continued dialogue with President Basiru Diomae Faye and for maintaining political stability in the country.

The conference proceedings are of particular importance as they represent the first major political and organizational milestone for the party since coming to power. Participants are expected to discuss the implications of the new political landscape resulting from the recent government reshuffle.

This comes alongside the formulation of the party’s strategy in a unique situation that combines its parliamentary majority with its absence from executive power.

Prior to the start of the conference, Osman Sonko described the event as a pivotal moment in the party's trajectory, stressing the need for PASTEF to move from the stage of political activism to the stage of institutional organization, which would enhance its internal performance and ensure the long-term sustainability of its political project.