Senegal’s two former ruling parties have joined forces ahead of the snap legislative election scheduled for November 17.
The Alliance for the Republic (APR) party of ex-president Macky Sall and the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) of former president Abdoulaye Wade announced their coalition on Sunday, a direct challenge to recently-elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The APR and PDS, holding 106 out of 165 seats in the recently dissolved National Assembly, aim to secure a majority in the upcoming elections, potentially disrupting Faye’s ambitious reform plans.
Faye, who came to power in April after a sweeping electoral victory, dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament on September 12, citing difficulty passing key bills.
In a televised address following the dissolution, President Faye emphasised the need for a new mandate from the people to push forward his systemic transformation agenda.
The APR and PDS coalition, however, threatens to derail this, positioning itself as a powerful opposition force that could thwart Faye’s efforts.
The two parties, once political adversaries, announced that their alliance remains open to other political groups and allies, seeking a broad coalition to challenge Faye’s Pastef party in the November poll.
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