Senegal’s national dialogue process is set to begin on Thursday, May 21, 2026, launching a series of meetings that will open with former prime ministers and former finance ministers.
Originally envisioned as a massive national gathering bringing together a wide array of political and social stakeholders, the format has been significantly revised due to the proximity of Eid al-Adha, locally known as Tabaski. Because this major Muslim holiday is a period marked by intense social, religious, and family commitments—including extensive travel and domestic preparations across the country—the traditional plenary session originally scheduled for May 28 has been cancelled.
In place of the grand assembly, the Secretary-General of the Presidency announced a more flexible arrangement based on targeted, small-group consultations. Under this restructured framework, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is prioritizing direct, bilateral exchanges with political leaders, civil society actors, and religious figures scheduled between May 21 and May 31. Authorities emphasize that despite the lack of a central plenary, the core objective remains unchanged: to maintain a continuous framework for dialogue on vital national issues such as social cohesion, governance, institutional reforms, and political stability. This shift represents a deliberate adaptation of the political calendar to respect the country’s sociocultural realities without halting the broader consultation process.
The adjusted format, however, faces political headwinds from the opposition. The Alliance for the Republic, the party of former president Macky Sall, alongside the Front for the Defence of the Republic opposition coalition, have both announced a boycott of the consultations. Amid these shifting political dynamics, the domestic focus will also turn to the legislative branch on Friday, May 22, where Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and his government are scheduled to appear before the National Assembly for the fourth time since 2024 to address current affairs questions from lawmakers.
TE/Sf/lb/abj/APA