The High Authority for Party Regulation (HARP) of PASTEF-Les Patriotes officially initiated the election process for the party’s president on May 14, 2026. According to decision N°001/2026/HARP, published by the body, the submission of candidacies opened on May 15 and will close at noon on May 20, 2026.
A procedure addressing Diomaye’s critiques?
This decision refrains from granting any exclusive advantage to the outgoing president, Ousmane Sonko. Instead, it formally opens the leadership contest to all factions within the party, allowing the current Prime Minister the opportunity to seek a renewed mandate, yet without guaranteeing him automatic ascension to the organization’s top position.
The establishment of this formal competition directly reflects the public declarations made by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who had previously criticized the party for being excessively “personalized.” By implementing an open and regulated procedure, HARP directly addresses this critique, while simultaneously raising crucial questions about PASTEF’s leadership during a transformative period.
When recently questioned about the party’s potential candidate for the 2029 presidential election, Diomaye Faye indicated that any designation would be contingent upon the conclusions reached at the forthcoming congress. This clearly signaled that the internal debate regarding the candidate was far from settled. The current election for the party’s leader serves as a vital preliminary step before that broader discussion can take place.
Five days to submit a candidacy
HARP has imposed a rigorous schedule: candidates have a mere five working days to compile and submit their application files. These submissions must adhere to a standard declaration form, which is appended to the decision. The HARP’s deliberation on this matter was adopted during a special session held on May 14, 2026.
The outcome of this internal ballot will determine who officially embodies PASTEF leading up to the next congress, where the pivotal decision concerning the party’s candidate for the 2029 presidential election is expected to be finalized.