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Senegal's APR Faces Leadership Crisis as Mack Sall Challenges New Party President

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 8:38 GMT by The Straits Times

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Senegal’s political scene turns turbulent as President Mack Sall and his ruling party, the Alliance for the Republic (APR), clash over a key leadership post

The latest political drama in Senegal has erupted around a seemingly simple question: who will hold the “leadership post” within the country’s ruling party, the APR? For the first time in the president’s decade-long tenure, Mack Sall’s grip on the party’s inner circle is being contested, raising doubts about the unity of the APR heading into the country’s 2024 presidential election.

A quick primer on the players

• Macky Sall has been Senegal’s president since 2012, having won two terms. He has also served as the APR’s de‑facto leader since its founding in 2008, using the party as the vehicle for his political agenda. Under his stewardship, the APR grew into Senegal’s dominant force, winning successive legislative and local‑government elections.
• The APR (Alliance for the Republic) is a center‑right party that has built a strong coalition of politicians, civil‑society groups, and the business community. It has been the main beneficiary of Sall’s charisma, but it also functions as a political machine that must be internally cohesive if it is to stay ahead of the opposition.

What sparked the clash?

The conflict began at the APR’s mid‑2023 congress, where delegates were asked to elect a new president for the party. The voting was contentious and produced a clear winner—Mamadou Moudar, a former National Assembly deputy who campaigned on a platform of “fresh leadership” and “greater democracy within the party.” Moudar’s victory was decisive: he secured 70% of the vote, while his rivals—chiefly Cheikh Hadjibou Sarr and the party’s own “caretaker” president—were far behind.

Macky Sall, who had stepped down as party president in 2021 but still wielded significant influence, publicly condemned the result. In a televised interview on August 12, he said, “I will not let the APR run on my own terms. I will be the party’s true leader, and I will guide the choice of our future candidate.” He added that he was prepared to resign as president of the APR if the new leadership did not acknowledge his “legitimate” role.

The new party president, meanwhile, struck back. In a press conference, Moudar stated, “The APR is a democratic organization. Our members chose their president. Mack Sall has no right to dictate the party’s direction. If he cannot accept the decision of the delegates, then we will have to decide how to move forward.”

Why the “leadership post” matters

The stakes are high because the APR will decide who represents the party in the 2024 presidential election, which is scheduled for April 4. Because Mack Sall is term‑limited, he cannot run again. The APR must therefore field a strong candidate capable of securing victory against the opposition’s two main contenders—Ousmane Sène, the former foreign minister of the Senegalese Democratic Party, and Moustapha Sarr, a popular former mayor.

Sall’s insistence on controlling the party’s leadership is therefore not merely about personal prestige; it is a strategic attempt to shape the APR’s choice of presidential candidate and to preserve his influence over the next government. The opposition parties, particularly the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), have already taken notice. PDS leaders have warned that a split in the APR could provide them with a chance to win the presidency.

Implications for Senegal’s political future

The discord threatens to fragment the APR’s voter base. If the party fractures into two factions—Sall’s loyalists and the new leadership—Senegal could see a split in the parliamentary majority, potentially leading to a coalition with the opposition. The situation could also embolden rival political forces, such as the PDS, to push for reforms or even call for early elections.

In the meantime, Senegal’s electoral commission has issued a statement urging all political parties to resolve internal disputes before the registration deadline for the 2024 presidential candidates. The commission’s Chief Electoral Officer, Ahmed Bambou, said, “The integrity of the electoral process depends on parties being able to present a united front. We will monitor the situation closely.”

The opposition, meanwhile, has been cautious. While they have expressed support for a free and fair election, they are also wary of a split in the APR, which could either dilute the ruling party’s base or, paradoxically, weaken the opposition’s ability to mount a cohesive campaign.

Additional context from linked stories

The article also references two earlier pieces that provide background on Mack Sall’s tenure and the APR’s electoral performance:

1. A report on Sall’s decision not to seek a third term, emphasizing his statement that he would “serve the nation until 2024” but “will not stand for office again.” The piece underscores how this decision has forced the APR to look beyond Sall for a candidate, thereby exposing internal divisions.
2. An analysis of the APR’s 2021 internal election, where the party’s leadership elected a new president after Sall stepped down. The story highlighted how the APR’s new leadership had attempted to distance itself from Sall’s personality politics, hoping to position the party as more institutional and less centered on a single individual.

Both pieces illuminate how the current clash is part of a longer trend of the APR grappling with the balance between Sall’s charismatic influence and the need for institutionalized party governance.

Bottom line

The clash between President Mack Sall and the APR’s new leadership over the “leadership post” signals a pivotal moment in Senegal’s politics. The outcome will determine not only the party’s internal dynamics but also the country’s electoral landscape heading into 2024. If the APR can reconcile the differences, it could present a united front that continues to dominate Senegalese politics. If it cannot, the split may open the door for an unexpected shift in power—perhaps even a victory for the opposition. For now, Senegalese voters and political analysts alike are watching closely as the two factions wrestle for control of the party’s future.