Following the cancellation of the annual May 28 national dialogue initiated by former president Macky Sall in 2016, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has opted for an extended ten-day consultation period with diverse stakeholders. These include non-governmental organizations, political parties, traditional leaders, and religious figures.

« This reflects his image as a consensus builder, » notes Maurice Soundieck Dione, a political science professor at Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis. While President Faye aims to make consultation the cornerstone of his governance style, these sessions also respond to opposition criticisms regarding the controversial adoption of the electoral law reform and the announcement of constitutional changes.

Prime minister Ousmane Sonko addresses national assembly

Simultaneously, the other leader of the executive branch, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, is set to address lawmakers at the National Assembly on May 22.

While scheduled in the national calendar, the timing of this fifth session of current affairs questions raises questions. To prevent potential overlap, « a coordination between the two would have been ideal, » argues analyst Assane Samb. However, in Senegal’s current political landscape—described as « a rivalry between co-leaders at the helm of the state »—this timing comes as no surprise to professor Maurice Soundieck Dione, as each seeks to « assert their presence. »