In 2014, while they were tax inspectors, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko co-founded the party African Patriots of Senegal for Labour, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF). Animated by a sovereignist vision and an unwavering commitment against corruption, they rapidly gained notoriety. In 2019, Ousmane Sonko ran for the presidential election, receiving nearly 16% of the votes and ranking third, a result that confirms the implementation of PASTEF on the national political scene. The political rise of the two leaders is, however, marked by regular confrontations with the power in place. In April 2023, Bassirou Diomaye Faye was arrested on charges of “dissemination of false news, outrage to magistrates and defamation”, after having publicly criticized the judicial system. Ousmane Sonko, meanwhile, faces legal proceedings that disqualify him from the 2024 presidential race, exacerbating political tensions and mobilizing a significant fringe of the population in their favor. Privé de la possibilité de se présenter, Ousmane Sonko et le PASTEF investissent Bassirou Diomaye Faye comme candidat à la présidentielle. He was elected to the post of President of the French Republic in the first round of the presidential elections held on 1 May.
Sonko Diomaye: Un an déjà, The advent of a new political era in Senegal
