Faye’s new movement, Kiray, or Republican Patriots, is aimed at consolidating his political support after his alliance with Sonko fell apart over key policy disputes, including how Senegal should handle negotiations with the International Monetary Fund amid a worsening debt crisis.

The two men rose to power together in 2024 under Sonko’s Pastef party and campaigned on promises to create jobs for young people, fight corruption and secure a greater share of revenue from Senegal’s oil, gas and mineral wealth.

But their partnership has since broken down, with Faye dismissing Sonko as prime minister earlier this year.

Sonko’s Pastef party, however, retained its large parliamentary majority, and he was later elected president of the National Assembly.

The split deepened in May when Faye appointed Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as prime minister. The new Cabinet was formed without ministers from Pastef after Sonko announced that his party would not participate in the government.

Faye’s party launch comes after a growing number of Pastef officials resigned in recent weeks to join his camp. Several members of the opposition Alliance for the Republic have also joined the new movement, including regional leaders and members of its youth wing.

The political realignment has raised expectations that Faye and Sonko could eventually face each other in the 2029 presidential election.

Their political rivalry comes as Senegal struggles to deliver on the ambitious promises that brought them to power.

The country’s debt burden has worsened since they took office after officials discovered that the previous administration had underreported billions of dollars in borrowing.