Following a several-week hiatus for the Grand Magal de Touba celebrations, Pastef party leader Ousmane Sonko has reignited the vigorous pace of his membership card sales campaign. The initiative originally commenced in Touba, where it was officially launched during the “48H Pastef” event. Since then, the tour has seen Sonko visit Bargny, Sébikotane, Khombole, Bambey, Keur Madiabel, and Mbacké. Each stop consistently demonstrated intense public mobilization, mirroring the enthusiasm observed during his July 26 visit, which notably coincided with the launch of the presidential party Kiiraay.

This renewed push is integral to Pastef’s ambitious objective of enrolling one million members before October. Ousmane Sonko himself underscored this goal during his visit to Mbacké, where he specifically challenged the department to contribute significantly, famously stating that Mbacké alone could potentially generate a million adherents. Earlier stages of the tour frequently experienced rapid sell-outs of membership cards within hours, compelling the party to arrange swift resupplies to meet the overwhelming demand.

This resumption of the Ousmane Sonko campaign in Senegal unfolds amidst a charged political atmosphere. The period is marked by a definitive estrangement between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as well as the recent inauguration of the new presidential party, Kiiraay. The latter has prompted the departure of several prominent Pastef figures in recent weeks. In response to these defections, the party’s leader had recently urged his supporters to refrain from commenting on the departures and instead maintain their focus on the ongoing campaign’s objectives.