With the first ordinary congress of the Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) party approaching on Saturday, June 6, 2026, Secretary-General Ousmane Sonko has issued an extensive editorial. This crucial document details the movement’s journey and articulates the ambitious goals set for the upcoming gathering.
In his address, the former Prime Minister adopts a dual perspective. He acts as the founder, recalling the party’s humble beginnings in 2014, established “without financial resources” or “networks of influence.” Simultaneously, he emerges as the strategist, directly addressing the pivotal question of post-electoral governance. “History teaches us that political transformations can be undermined if they lack a clear doctrine, robust organization, or a long-term strategy,” Sonko asserted.
Sonko’s tribune outlines a compelling narrative arc, spanning from the widespread popular mobilizations between 2021 and 2024—which he characterizes as “one of the most intense periods in Senegal’s recent history”—to the upcoming June 2026 congress. He envisions this congress as the definitive transition “from a movement of rupture to a fully organized party.” Delegates from both national sections and the diaspora are slated to endorse an ideological charter, a strategic orientation document, party theses, and a comprehensive general resolution.
The concept of sovereignty serves as the guiding principle throughout the text. Sonko defines it not merely as a slogan, but as “a method of government” encompassing crucial areas such as natural resources, budgetary decisions, agricultural policy, the educational system, and Senegal’s standing on the global stage. He also integrates a cultural dimension, emphasizing the promotion of national languages, the reclaiming of historical narratives, and the mastery of technology. Furthermore, a pan-African ambition is highlighted: to integrate national sovereignty with economic and scientific cooperation across the continent.
Published amid ongoing tensions within the executive branch and his own exclusion from the government, Sonko’s tribune sends a clear message: the founder of Pastef intends to exert significant influence over the party’s ideological direction, regardless of institutional challenges.
