Senegal President Faye launches new party

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has launched a new political party, formalising his split with former ally Ousmane Sonko and setting up a struggle for control of the reform movement that swept them to power in 2024.

The creation of Kiiraay-The Republican Patriots on Saturday formalised the collapse of the alliance between Faye and Sonko after months of tensions over the direction of the government and Senegal’s mounting economic challenges.

The new party grew out of the Diomaye President coalition, which backed Faye’s successful 2024 presidential campaign. Speaking before supporters in Dakar, Faye portrayed Kiiraay as a movement centred on institutions rather than personalities.

“Kiiraay-The Republican Patriots is an open house,” Faye said, adding that the party would be guided by “ethics” and “transparency”.

He said the movement would be open to “young people, women, farmers, fishermen, teachers, health workers, the diaspora” and all citizens committed to serving the republic.

In another message directed at his supporters, Faye said political office should not be treated as a reward.

“Responsibilities will be duties and not rewards,” he said, adding that transparency would remain one of the party’s guiding principles.

The launch completes the political rupture between two men whose alliance overturned Senegal’s political establishment.

Faye and Sonko rose together through the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF).

Sonko, a former tax inspector, emerged as one of Senegal’s most influential opposition figures by campaigning against corruption, promising economic sovereignty and attracting strong support from young voters frustrated by unemployment and the rising cost of living.

When Sonko was unable to stand in the 2024 presidential election, PASTEF nominated Faye as its candidate. Campaigning under the slogan “Diomaye is Sonko”, Faye won the presidency and later appointed Sonko as prime minister.-Al Jazeera

Uganda’s Otunnu joins contest to become next UN Secretary General

Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu has joined the contest to become the next secretary-general of ‌the United Nations, the seventh contender to succeed Antonio Guterres when he steps down at the end of this year.

Otunnu, a former U.N. under-secretary-general who served as a special representative for children and armed conflict, was nominated by Uganda in a letter on Friday to the presidents of the U.N. General Assembly and Security Council.

At 75, he is the oldest of ⁠the current candidates for the role, which Guterres has held for two five-year terms.

Guterres’ successor faces the task of revitalising an organisation in crisis and declining stature that is under increasing pressure to reform a bloated, costly bureaucracy and cut duplication across its many agencies.

In his vision statement, Otunnu stressed the need to continue institutional reforms and said he would give immediate priority to efforts to help end major international conflicts. He also pledged work to establish a body to oversee U.N. work on AI and highlighted the need for climate change action that does not

The other candidates are Rafael Grossi of Argentina, director-general of the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency; former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet; Rebeca Grynspan, a former vice president of Costa Rica; Maria Fernanda Espinosa, a former foreign affairs and defence minister ​of Ecuador; Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, ​a former foreign ⁠Minister of Guyana, and Macky Sall, a former president of Senegal.

The selection process is expected to start in earnest this week with straw polls in the 15-nation Security Council aimed at whittling down the field. Other ⁠candidates can still join the race.

Diplomats say there is no obvious frontrunner, although there has been a widespread view it is Latin America’s turn to provide the U.N. leader and there ⁠has been support for a first woman in the job.

Experts say the key to success will be to avoid a veto by one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, particularly China, Russia or the United States.-Reuters

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