Bassirou Diomaye Launches New Kiiraay Party After Falling Out With Sonko
Senegal's president, Bassirou Diomaye, on Saturday unveiled a new political party called Kiiraay. The name, derived from Wolof for “protection” or “shield,” was announced during an event packed with supporters outside the capital, Dakar. This move comes hot on heels of his acrimonious split with former prime minister Ousmane Sonko and their respective parties.
According to reporting by Punch Nigeria - Sports, Diomaye's new party is titled 'Republican Patriots,' and follows his high-profile falling out with Sonko. The two once campaigned together for change but ultimately ended up in a bitter feud, leading to Sonko’s sacking as prime minister earlier this year.
Diomaye hopes that Kiiraay, which he claims will be the ‘majority party’ in Senegal, can unite like-minded citizens behind his vision of republicanism and integrity. However, some supporters remain skeptical, with Mamo Khady Sall, 43, described one such supporter, voicing strong opposition to Sonko without even mentioning his name.