On a recent Friday, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, declared his intention to establish a new political party designed to consolidate the support of all forces backing his administration. The announcement followed a four-hour meeting with 306 mayors from the country’s fourteen regions, all members of the Diomaye Président Coalition. According to the coalition’s official statement, this initiative aims to formalize the president’s political backing and strengthen his base amid evolving power dynamics at the highest levels of government.

To implement this plan, President Faye has tasked Aminata Touré, the coalition’s general supervisor, with forming a committee tasked with drafting the organizational and statutory foundations of the upcoming party. The coalition’s statement frames this move as a logical progression of its commitment, emphasizing that the new structure will foster an “organic unity” around the head of state in anticipation of upcoming electoral challenges.

During the gathering, local elected officials reaffirmed their alignment with the presidential agenda, praising the leader’s commitment to territorial equity by prioritizing local governments in public policy initiatives.

This political restructuring unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former ally, Ousmane Sonko. The latter, who left the Prime Minister’s office in May 2026, now serves as President of the National Assembly, where his parliamentary majority continues to wield significant influence.

Their disagreements have intensified following the adoption of a constitutional reform by lawmakers on June 29. The amendment includes provisions banning the president from leading a political party simultaneously, transforming the Constitutional Council into a Constitutional Court, and expanding parliamentary powers.

At the heart of the dispute lies the finalization process of this reform. Ousmane Sonko advocates for immediate promulgation by the head of state, citing legal precedents, while Bassirou Diomaye Faye insists on holding a referendum—though no date has been set—to allow citizens a direct voice in the matter.