At the 1972 congress of the original African Independence Party in Senegal, the former general secretary, Majhmoud Diop, was expelled.

In 1976, in the context of rapprochement from the side of the government, Diop was welcomed to return from exile.

Effectively this group started function as a separate party, calling itself PAI.

Generally it became known as PAI-Rénovation (Renewal), distinguishing it from the original PAI (which was called PAI-Sénégal).

In 1979 PAI of Diop was joined by a tendency of LD led by Moussa Kane.