African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity
Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l'éthique et la fraternité
AbbreviationPASTEF
LeaderOusmane Sonko
Secretary-GeneralBassirou Diomaye Faye
FounderOusmane Sonko
FoundedJanuary 2014 (2014-01)
Dissolved31 July 2023
Headquarters37 voie de Dégagement N, Dakar[1]
IdeologyLeft-wing populism
Pan-Africanism
Political positionLeft-wing
National affiliationYewwi Askan Wi
Colours  Red
  Green
Slogan"Self-sacrifice for the Fatherland"
(French: «Le don de soi pour la Patrie»)
Website
pastef.org

The African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (French: Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l'éthique et la fraternité; PASTEF), or just Patriots of Senegal, is a Senegalese political party founded in 2014 by Ousmane Sonko.[2]

The party was dissolved by the Ministry of Interior and Public Security in 2023 after being accused of "frequently calling on its supporters to insurrectional movements, which has led to serious consequences, including loss of life, many wounded, as well as acts of looting of public and private property."[3] The party announced it would appeal the decision both to the Court of Cassation and to the Court of Justice of ECOWAS.[4]

History

In a desire for political renewal, several young civil servants from the Senegalese public administration and from other backgrounds, united in a committee to create PASTEF in January 2014.

The party was defined above all as being a dynamic.[5] Composed mainly of beginners in politics, nevertheless the personalities who make up the committee are qualified in trade union acts and public functions. Like taxation through its president.[6]

In 2017, PASTEF joined the People's Alternative coalition for the legislative elections of that same year.[7] This coalition is made up of several parties including: PASTEF, RND, MRDS, and others. During the final results, with 1.13% of the votes Ousmane Sonko - at the head of this coalition is elected deputy of the department of Dakar.

Two years after the first participation in the elections, the party embarked on the presidential campaign, in which the President of the Republic of Senegal Macky Sall is a candidate for his own succession. In a country where people under 20 represent 55% of the population,[8] the young age of Ousmane Sonko compared to the other candidates and his virulent declarations resonate among young people.[9] Thus achieving a very good result with 15.67% of the votes and a third place for his first participation. Outgoing President Macky Sall was re-elected in the first round with 58.26%.

In September 2021 Ousmane Sonko formalized the creation of a new opposition alliance, Liberate the People, that included other political formations such as the Party for Unity and Rally and Manko Taxawu Sénégal.[10] During the following year the coalition contested first the 2022 local elections, winning in several major cities including Dakar,[11] and later the 2022 national election, gaining 56 seats and becoming the second biggest coalition in the National Assembly.[12]

On 31 May 2023, Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison for "corrupting youth"; the sentence prevented him from standing as the PASTEF candidate in the 2024 presidential election.[13] Sonko's arrest and sentencing triggered protests in June throughout Senegal.[14]

On 28 July 2023, Sonko was arrested on charges of encouraging an insurrection, undermining state security, creating political unrest, and criminal association.[15][16] On 31 July, the interior minister of Senegal announced the dissolution of PASTEF for rallying its supporters during violent protests in June 2023 and March 2021.[17] Following the announcements, protests were reported in Dakar and Ziguinchor; two people were reported to have died during protests in Ziguinchor.[18]

Electoral results

Presidential elections

Election Party candidate Votes % Votes % Result
First Round Second Round
2019 Ousmane Sonko 687,523 15.67% — Lost Red X

National Assembly elections

Year Leader Votes % Seats +/– Rank Status
2017[lower-alpha 1] Ousmane Sonko 37,535 1.13%
1 / 165
 New Increase 6th Opposition
2022[lower-alpha 2] 1,071,139 32.85%
56 / 165
 Increase 55 Increase 2nd Opposition
  1. ↑ Run within People's Alternative (Ndawi Askan Wi) coalition.
  2. ↑ Run within Liberate the People coalition.

References

  1. ↑ https://senego.com/demenagement-ousmane-sonko-change-de-siege_913799.html Déménagement : Ousmane Sonko change de siège…
  2. ↑ "A propos". Jotna - Ousmane SONKO (in French). Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  3. ↑ "Senegal dissolves party of opposition leader Sonko". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  4. ↑ "Senegal: Pastef appeals to the Court of Justice of ECOWAS and the Supreme Court". Africanews. 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  5. ↑ "Présentation du parti Pastef de OUSMANE SONKO".
  6. ↑ "Sénégal. Sonko, l'inspecteur courage". Courrier international. September 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ FAYE, AYOBA. "La Coalition Ndawi Askan Wi/Alternative du peuple au front pour la Refondation des institutions et contre le présidentialisme autocratique". PRESSAFRIK.COM, Premier journal en ligne au Sénégal et en Afrique de l'ouest.
  8. ↑ "Population du Sénégal". Au Sénégal, le cœur du Sénégal. August 8, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ousmane Sonko, le "patriote"" – via www.bbc.com.
  10. ↑ "Senegal: Can the new "Yewwi Askan Wi" coalition change things?". Archived from the original on 1 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Senegal counts legislative votes with eyes on 2024 presidential race". France 24. July 31, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Sénégal : l'opposition acceptera les résultats des législatives" [Senegal: the opposition will accept the results of the legislative election]. Africanews (in French). 11 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "Senegalese opponent Sonko sentenced to 2 years for 'corrupting youth'". Le Monde. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "Senegal: Violent Crackdown On Opposition, Dissent". Human Rights Watch. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "Top Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko arrested: Lawyer". Al Jazeera. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  16. ↑ Akinpelu, Yusuf (31 July 2023). "Senegal's firebrand opposition leader charged - again". BBC News. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  17. ↑ Allegrozzi, Ilaria (1 August 2023). "Senegalese Government Dissolves Opposition Party, Cuts Internet". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  18. ↑ "Sénégal: le gouvernement dissout le parti de l'opposant Ousmane Sonko, 2 morts dans des manifestations". RFI (in French). 31 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
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