Ousmane Sonko resumes Pastef membership drive after Magal break

After a pause spanning several weeks for the revered Grand Magal de Touba celebrations, the president of Pastef, Ousmane Sonko, has reignited the robust pace of his party’s membership card sales campaign. This vital initiative was initially launched with much fanfare in Touba, coinciding with the “48H Pastef” event. Since its inception, the extensive tour has seen Sonko engage with communities in Bargny, Sébikotane, Khombole, and Bambey, before moving on to Keur Madiabel and Mbacké. Each stop has consistently demonstrated remarkable levels of public mobilization and enthusiasm, echoing the scenes witnessed during his visit on July 26, which notably coincided with the official launch of the presidential party, Kiiraay.

This latest phase of the campaign is strategically aligned with Pastef’s ambitious target: to enroll over one million members before October. This significant objective has been a central theme, forcefully articulated by Ousmane Sonko himself during his stop in Mbacké. He specifically highlighted the department’s potential, asserting that Mbacké alone could contribute a million new adherents to the party’s ranks. The overwhelming demand encountered during previous legs of the tour frequently led to rapid depletion of membership card stocks within hours, necessitating swift logistical efforts to replenish supplies and meet the surging public interest.

The resumption of this membership drive unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political tension in Sénégal. A notable development is the confirmed rift between Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Furthermore, the recent inauguration of the new presidential party, Kiiraay, has prompted the departure of several key Pastef figures in recent weeks. In response to these internal shifts, the Pastef leader recently called upon his activists to refrain from commenting on the defections and instead maintain unwavering focus on achieving the ongoing campaign’s critical objectives.