Open crisis within the Socialist Party: Rebels from "Dundal PS" threaten a "casus belli" against the leadership

The initiators of the "Dundal PS – Reviving the PS" Manifesto are taking a tougher stance. In a public statement, they denounce the failure to implement the commitments made following a meeting with the Secretary General of the Socialist Party, organized after mediation efforts undertaken by several figures concerned about the future of the political party.

“Since the publication of the “Dundal PS – Reviving the PS” Manifesto and subsequent texts, individuals concerned about the future of our political party have kindly intervened with the Secretary General, inviting her to carry out her duties in the spirit that should underpin them: that of unity, cohesion and cohesion,” the statement reads.

The initiators of "Dundal PS" say they welcomed these good offices with all due consideration. Keen to give this initiative every chance of success, they affirm that they have suspended their activities and public statements and accepted the proposed meeting.

“Thus, a delegation of the initiators of the Manifesto agreed to go to the residence of the Secretary General, at the invitation of the facilitators and in their presence. It must be noted that none of the commitments made on this occasion have received the slightest start of implementation. On the contrary, held hostage by an entourage that prefers a showdown to responding to the demand for rebuilding the Party, the leadership persists in the practices that we have constantly denounced,” they lament.

Five recent events are highlighted by the initiators of "Dundal PS." The first concerns the creation of the Network of Socialist Women of Senegal, supported in Dakar in mid-July 2026 by the Global Progress Foundation. The initiators of "Dundal PS" believe that this initiative took place within a "restricted circle" and denounce the exclusion of women close to the Manifesto.

They then discussed the ceremonies commemorating the seventh anniversary of Ousmane Tanor Dieng's death. According to them, maneuvers were undertaken to exclude the legitimate Secretary General of the Socialist Party in the Dakar department from leading the ceremonies.

Third grievance: the convening of the Political Bureau. The initiators of the Manifesto are now contesting the decision-making process, asserting that the meeting would no longer be convened based on the deliberations of the National Executive Secretariat, but rather following a meeting held at the Secretary General's residence. They also criticize the dates successively chosen, notably August 8 and then August 22, 2026, as well as the failure to make the Recovery Commission's report available beforehand.

The initiators of "Dundal PS" also denounced the meeting held on August 6, again at the Secretary General's residence, during which, according to them, the proposed sanctions against the initiators of the Manifesto were maintained. A disciplinary committee was even established and its members appointed.

Finally, they protest against the Secretary General's opposition to the presence of some of the initiators of the Manifesto within the National Organising Committee set up for the celebration, in Dakar, of 50 years of the presence of the Socialist International in Africa.

The tone is particularly firm on the issue of possible disciplinary sanctions. "The summons of a single initiator or signatory of the 'Dundal PS' Manifesto before this illegitimate commission will be considered a casus belli," warn the signatories, who promise to respond "in proportion to the irresponsibility that underlies it."

Despite this warning, the initiators maintain that they are not closing the door to dialogue. They assert their intention to continue working towards the reconstruction of the Socialist Party, notably by "reviving the regular structures," by reaching out to activists in their local areas, and by publicly conveying "a message of hope and renewal for the Socialist Party."

For them, “Dundal PS” is neither a faction nor an attempt to fracture the party, but rather a step intended to prevent the collapse of the organization inherited from Léopold Sédar Senghor, Abdou Diouf and Ousmane Tanor Dieng.

They also criticize "the strategy of wearing down time" and the inaction of the leadership, at a time when other political formations are investing in the field in the lead-up to major elections.

“For the Socialist Party, for its history and for its members, the path of frank and sincere dialogue remains possible. Our resignation, however, never will be,” conclude the initiators of “Dundal PS – Reviving the PS”.

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