The launch on Saturday took place at a gathering of hundreds of supporters, who filled a hotel conference room in the capital while others waited outside in searing heat, carrying signs and wearing decorative scarves that read "Vive Diomaye." The new party grew out of the Diomaye President Coalition, which backed Faye's candidacy in the March 2024 presidential election.
"Kiiraay" Means Shield
In Wolof, Senegal's most widely spoken language, "Kiiraay" conveys the idea of protection, shelter or a shield. Party officials say the new formation aims to bring together political parties, movements and individuals supporting the president's agenda.
Speaking before supporters, Faye portrayed Kiiraay as a movement centred on institutions rather than personalities. "Kiiraay – The Republican Patriots is an open house," Faye said, adding that the party would be guided by "ethics" and "transparency." He said the movement would be open to "young people, women, farmers, fishermen, teachers, health workers, the diaspora" and all citizens committed to serving the republic.
"Responsibilities will be duties and not rewards," Faye said, adding that transparency would remain one of the party's guiding principles.
The party's founding documents were adopted at the assembly, and its motto was unveiled as "The Homeland First." The establishment process was overseen by former Prime Minister Aminata Touré, whom Faye had tasked with uniting his supporters under a single political organisation.
The Rupture with Sonko
The launch comes amid a deepening political split between Faye and Sonko, his former prime minister who now serves as President of the National Assembly and leads PASTEF, the party that swept them to power in 2024. Faye, a former secretary-general of PASTEF, stepped down from that post after assuming the presidency in 2024.
The two men rose together through PASTEF, with Sonko emerging as one of Senegal's most influential opposition figures by campaigning against corruption and promising economic sovereignty, attracting strong support from young voters. When Sonko was unable to stand in the 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction, PASTEF nominated Faye as its candidate. Campaigning under the slogan "Diomaye is Sonko," Faye won the presidency and later appointed Sonko as prime minister.
The alliance began to unravel amid disputes over key policy decisions, including how to approach negotiations with the International Monetary Fund over a loan programme amid a severe debt crisis. Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister on 22 May, but Sonko soon became speaker of the National Assembly and remains the leader of PASTEF, which controls 130 of the 165 seats in parliament.
Building a New Political Force
The new party has already attracted several officials who have resigned from PASTEF to join the presidential camp, including regional leaders and members of its youth wing. Several members of former president Macky Sall's party, the Alliance for the Republic, have also joined Faye's movement.
Faye's communications team has said the new party will hold a congress after the country's current rainy season. The party is expected to play a key role in shaping Senegal's political landscape ahead of local elections in 2027 and the presidential election in 2029.
Not everyone is convinced of the new party's momentum, however. The daily newspaper Yoor Yoor, close to PASTEF, played down the departures on its front page, describing them as "a few dozen high-profile resignations" against what it called a "tidal wave" of new memberships for PASTEF.
A New Chapter in Senegalese Politics
The launch of Kiiraay marks a new chapter in Senegal's political history, with the country now navigating uncharted territory. Sonko's PASTEF retains a parliamentary supermajority, giving him substantial power within the legislature, while Faye seeks to build a broader political base beyond the party's historic circle.
The rupture between the two leaders represents a significant test for Senegal's democracy, as the country grapples with competing political visions centred on two men who once campaigned as inseparable allies.
With reporting from Xinhua News Agency, allAfrica.com, The Timbuktu Institute, Ghanaian Times, The Standard Newspaper, BBC News Afrique and TV5MONDE.
