Invited to the program Le Jury du Dimanche on Iradio, the former minister and executive of the Alliance for the Republic (APR), Seydou Guèye, spoke at length about the national political situation after the loss of power by the presidential coalition in 2024. Between analysis of the defeat, criticism of the current power and reconstruction strategy, he affirms that his party remains a major political force in Senegal.

For Seydou Guèye, the loss of power by the Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition certainly marks a break, but it does not signal the political demise of the APR. "It's the first defeat after eleven electoral victories. Once the initial shock of the first night has passed, we need to assess the situation and draw conclusions," he explains. According to him, every political defeat produces two reactions: some activists abandon ship, while others work to rebuild the organization.

In the case of the APR, he asserts that despite departures, the party has retained a "massive base" of activists. The former minister emphasizes that the tours organized after the presidential election revealed a still significant local presence. "The Alliance for the Republic remains the leading party at the local level, with more than 400 local authorities headed by officials from the party," he maintains.

Macky Sall, a central figure in the political project

At the heart of the APR's reconstruction strategy remains former President Macky Sall. For Seydou Guèye, Sall's record represents a major political lever for maintaining party cohesion and preparing for the future. "His speech after the defeat was impactful and coherent. He emphasized solidarity, resilience, and the need to get back to work," he explains. He also points out that Macky Sall left the presidency without having been personally defeated in a presidential election.

An opposition that is organizing itself

Now in opposition, the APR is part of a broader framework: the Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic. Seydou Guèye emphasizes the importance of structuring the opposition before seeking a single leader. "The priority is not the emergence of a leader, but the establishment of a framework to foster political momentum," he states. He believes the current situation requires mobilization to defend civil liberties and the rule of law.

Criticisms of the current government

The former minister denounces what he calls abuses in the way the country is being run by the new authorities. According to him, the political climate is marked by a proliferation of legal proceedings targeting political figures. "The words that dominate the public sphere today are summons, police custody, arrest warrant, electronic bracelet. For a country like Senegal, this is worrying," he declares. He nevertheless points out that the 2024 presidential election remains an example of democratic maturity: "In many countries, it would have been difficult to organize a peaceful election with a first-round victory for a candidate released from prison," he emphasizes.

Restructuring and renewal

To prepare for the future, Macky Sall's party has undertaken an internal restructuring. A new National Executive Secretariat has been established, covering the entire country and the diaspora. Departmental secretariats have also been set up in most of the country's departments. This reorganization is accompanied by a partial renewal of leadership.

Seydou Guèye himself has stepped down as party spokesperson, a role now entrusted to a team coordinated by Moussa Bocar Thiam. The APR's new dynamic places significant emphasis on young people and women. For Seydou Guèye, these groups are essential drivers of political mobilization. "If you want to translate potential into electoral reality, you must rely on the innovation brought by young people and women," he asserts. He cautions, however, against "youth obsession," reminding everyone that politics remains a collective endeavor where all generations must coexist.

Despite the electoral defeat, Seydou Guèye maintains that the APR is already working on a strategy to regain power. According to him, the difficulties faced by the new authorities could strengthen the opposition's narrative. "We don't need to invent a new narrative. The current political reality speaks for itself," he concludes.