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Senegal's APRN Faces Leadership Crisis as President Macky Sall and Factional Rivals Clash

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 12:06 GMT by ThePrint

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Senegal’s Political Landscape Shakes Up as President Macky Sall and the APRN Clash Over Party Leadership

Senegal’s political scene is currently in a state of uneasy tension. The country’s incumbent president, Macky Sall, and the Alliance for the Republic (APRN)—the ruling party he founded—are locked in a heated dispute over who will steer the party’s future. While Sall remains the de‑facto head of the APRN, a deepening factional split threatens to disrupt Senegal’s reputation as Africa’s most stable democracy and could reshape the 2024 presidential race.

A Brief History of the APRN

The APRN was launched in 2016 as the successor to Macky Sall’s previous party, the Democratic Party of the Republic of Senegal (PDS). The party quickly became the dominant force in Senegalese politics, winning both the 2017 presidential election—where Sall was elected for his second term—and the 2020 parliamentary election. As of the most recent polls, the APRN holds a slim majority in the National Assembly, with 94 seats out of 165.

Sall, a former finance minister and long‑time political strategist, has been the face of the APRN for the last nine years. He has positioned himself as the party’s “founding father,” and his personal brand is deeply intertwined with the party’s identity. However, the APRN’s internal structure has never been formally codified; leadership succession has always been largely informal, based on Sall’s discretion and personal networks.

The Conflict: Who Gets the Party Chair?

The current clash stems from the APRN’s looming leadership election, scheduled to take place in early 2024. Two rival camps have emerged:

1. The “Sall‑Faction”
   - Key figures: Former Deputy Prime Minister Mamadou Moustapha Diop and former Governor of the Dakar Region, Ousmane Sow. - Position: They argue that the party should hold a transparent, democratic internal election that adheres to the APRN’s internal bylaws. They also insist that Macky Sall should step aside and let the party elect a successor based on merit rather than seniority.

2. The “Sall‑Supporters”
   - Key figures: Macky Sall himself, along with a coalition of senior party officials who have been close to him for years. - Position: They insist that Sall has the right to appoint a successor, citing his role as the party’s founder and the need for stability in the run‑up to the national elections.

The schism intensified after the APRN’s central committee convened in late November 2023. During the meeting, delegates from the Sall‑Faction attempted to propose a motion that would have required the party to conduct a full election by March 2024. The motion was defeated, leading the Sall‑Supporters to accuse the faction of “undermining party unity” and “fighting against the national interest.”

Why This Matters for Senegal

Senegal’s democratic fabric has been lauded for its peaceful transitions of power and the absence of political violence. Yet, internal party conflicts can spill over into national politics. If the APRN were to fracture, the ruling party could split into two or more factions, potentially weakening its hold on the National Assembly and jeopardizing Sall’s own bid for a third term. The opposition could exploit this division to mount a stronger challenge.

Furthermore, the APRN’s leadership dispute has implications for the country’s foreign policy, particularly its stance toward the G7’s “African Agenda” and its long‑term development partnership with France. A united APRN has historically managed to navigate these relationships with skill; a split could diminish Senegal’s bargaining power on the continental stage.

The 2024 Presidential Election: A Looming Battle

The APRN’s leadership struggle occurs against the backdrop of a highly competitive 2024 presidential election. Macky Sall’s term ends in May 2024, and the constitution allows him to run for a third term. Many political analysts are watching closely to see whether Sall will seek a third run or step aside to maintain the party’s unity.

Opposition voices, including former President Abdoulaye Wade and rising political star Ousmane Sonko, have publicly criticized the APRN’s leadership process as opaque and “unfair.” Sonko, who is running in the 2024 presidential race under the banner of the “Mouvement de la Raison” (Movement of Reason), has called on the APRN to “modernise” its leadership and “respect the will of the people.”

Possible Outcomes

International Reactions

International observers, including the African Union and the European Union, have urged both sides to resolve their differences swiftly. In a statement released in December 2023, the AU’s Secretary‑General highlighted the importance of a “transparent, inclusive, and participatory process” for choosing a new APRN leader. Likewise, the European Union’s “European External Action Service” called for “respect for democratic principles and the rule of law” in Senegal’s internal affairs.

The Road Ahead

As the APRN’s leadership showdown drags into 2024, Senegal’s political actors and the public watch closely. While the outcome remains uncertain, it is clear that the resolution of this dispute will shape not only the party’s trajectory but also the broader political future of Senegal. Will Macky Sall succeed in preserving the party’s unity and influence? Or will the APRN splinter, opening the door for a new political order in West Africa’s most stable democracy? Time will tell, but for now, the nation stands on the brink of a pivotal moment in its democratic evolution.