Senegal president opens dialogue on political reform
Several opposition parties boycotted the process, however, including that of former president Macky Sall, who was succeeded by Faye last year after 12 years at the helm and who accuses the authorities of persecuting his party's officials.
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye (C), Senegal's Interior Minister Jean Baptiste Tine (2nd L), president of the high council for Social Dialogue Mamadou Lamine Diante (L), general facilitator of the dialougue Dr Cheikh Gueye (R), and Senegal's Director of Communication and Spokesperson for the General Directorate of Elections Ibrahima Balde (2nd R), attend the opening of the national dialogue at the Abdou Diouf International Conference Center in Diamniadio on May 28, 2025. (AFP
By AFP .
Journalists @New Vision
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Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Wednesday formally opened a national dialogue aimed at steering the west African country through political reform and "consolidating democracy" after a series of violent crises.
The move, which the head of state launched along with his prime minister, Ousmane Sonko, comes against a backdrop of tension between Faye's administration and the opposition.
Several opposition parties boycotted the process, however, including that of former president Macky Sall, who was succeeded by Faye last year after 12 years at the helm and who accuses the authorities of persecuting his party's officials.
Faye and Sonko have promised to hold to account former leaders, notably Sall himself, accusing them of mismanagement.
A clutch of legal proceedings have been launched against Sall-era officials, and a special court recently indicted five former ministers for alleged embezzlement.
Of the five, three -- including Sall's brother-in-law -- were incarcerated. The other two were released on parole.
Most opposition forces did, however, take part in the opening ceremony of the consultation in the new town of Diamniadio, just outside the capital, Dakar.
The consultations, presented as the fifth edition of a "National Dialogue" first initiated by Sall himself, also bring together members of civil society, unions, experts and academics.
Topics will include overhauling the political party system, the "status" of the opposition, the revision of the sponsorship system required to be a presidential candidate and the transformation of the existing Constitutional Council into a Constitutional Court.
The goal is to create a "strong consensus to sustainably strengthen Senegalese democracy and fully guarantee the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms", according to the government.
Senegal has experienced recurring conflicts in its recent history, notably during violent unrest that saw dozens of mostly young people shot dead between 2021 and 2024.
The conclusions of the consultations are expected to be submitted to Faye on June 4.