Cheered by an enthusiastic crowd, Ousmane Sonko launched the first leg of his nationwide tour in Bargny, where he rallied locals before pressing on to Sébikotane, Khombole, and Bambey. The Pastef party’s nationwide membership card sales initiative is racing toward its target of one million new members.
The party’s president used the opportunity to honor fallen activists from the tough years of political struggle that paved the way for the party’s rise to power.
In a solemn moment, he paid tribute to the militants of Bargny who made the ultimate sacrifice during the intense confrontations that stretched from 2021 to 2024, before the party’s historic breakthrough in April 2024’s presidential election and the sweeping legislative victory that followed.
Since assuming the role of National Assembly President on May 22, Sonko has seen relations with the head of state steadily deteriorate, culminating in the launch of a rival political formation by the president on the same day this tour began. The split within the former Diomaye Président coalition has already claimed several high-profile departures from Pastef’s ranks.
This stop in Bargny reaffirms Sonko’s commitment to the families of those lost during the 2021–2024 period, including the pledge of a 100 million FCFA solidarity fund unveiled earlier this year.
The membership drive, which kicked off in early July, has already made waves. In Mbacké, the first official event saw 13,000 cards sold within hours, prompting an urgent restocking order in Dakar. The party is now aiming to surpass the one-million-adherent mark before October.
