On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic, presided over the official opening ceremony of the National Dialogue on the Political System at the Abdou Diouf International Conference Center (CICAD). This significant event, enshrined in the republican agenda, brought together representatives from political parties, civil society, religious and traditional authorities, trade unions, and other key stakeholders in public life, responding to the Head of State’s call for an in-depth reflection on major institutional and political issues.
Following the remarks of the distinguished participants, the President of the Republic delivered a speech marked by a unifying vision and profound wisdom.
In his address, President Faye reaffirmed his commitment to preserving national unity and the country’s stability, emphasizing the critical need for inclusive consultations based on listening, trust, and the pursuit of consensus. “My role as the guarantor of national unity is to extend a hand to all, to reassure, unite, pacify, and reconcile, in order to strengthen the peace and stability essential to our country’s economic development,” he declared.
The Head of State also stressed the government’s responsibility to fully carry out its sovereign duties while ensuring that the opposition can freely and respectfully exercise its rights within the strict framework of legal provisions. He noted that these consultations, held independently of electoral deadlines, provide a unique opportunity to address structural reforms, including the rationalization of the electoral calendar, the governance and financing of political parties, the establishment of an independent national electoral commission, as well as the management of the electoral register and the role of the judiciary in the electoral process.
Continuing his remarks, President Faye highlighted the need for calm and clear-sighted reflection on the future of Senegal’s political system, stressing that this collective effort must be grounded in the fundamental principles of democracy, particularly respect for individual and collective freedoms, as well as necessary constitutional and legislative reforms.
Concluding his address, the Head of State expressed a fervent wish: “May your discussions be marked by responsibility, attentiveness, and self-transcendence; may they yield bold and realistic proposals, and may they be guided at every moment by the supreme interest of Senegal.”
The full text of the President of the Republic’s speech:
Mr. President of the National Assembly,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Government,
Honorable Deputies,
Madam Vice-President of the Constitutional Council,
Mr. First President of the Supreme Court,
Mr. First President of the Court of Auditors,
Mr. First President of the Dakar Court of Appeal,
Mr. President of the Autonomous National Electoral Commission,
Mr. President of the Audiovisual Regulatory Council,
Mr. President of the High Council for Social Dialogue,
Religious and Traditional Notables,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of Civil Society,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of Trade Unions and Professional Organizations,
Dear Guests, in your ranks, titles, and capacities,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are gathered here today, for the second time since my accession to the presidency, in the framework of a dialogue on a matter of national importance: the Political System. By attending this significant gathering, which brings together all the vital forces of our Nation, we are fulfilling the obligation to honor the date enshrined in our republican calendar. This dialogue, held in times of peace, further anchors us in the continuous tradition of consultation and the preservation of social peace, which we are duty-bound to build perpetually.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The involvement of all segments of our society in the institutional governance of the State is, if further proof were needed, a testament to the systemic shift currently permeating all public action. My deep conviction is that, beyond political actors, when it comes to envisioning the long-term reforms that shape our Political System, every part of society has a voice.
Thus, through the pursuit of consensus and collective deliberation, we must define the institutional and normative framework that will shape the future of our political society. This is the true virtue of a Dialogue held in peacetime—not to quell stressful socio-political tensions affecting the entire community, but to write, together, even more beautiful chapters in our national political narrative.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The expression “Senegal is a country of dialogue” is no accident. It stems from a consolidating heritage of pencoo and diiso, from a political consciousness matured by history, and from a culture of balance inherited from our forebears. Our responsibility is to preserve this heritage and pass the torch intact.
Yet, we must guard against inertia or the status quo. We must regularly examine the societal dynamics in our beloved country.
Indeed, the tensions that have marked Senegal remain too vivid to be forgotten. Lives have been lost. Families still mourn their loved ones. Moral wounds await healing. As President of the Republic, I bow with respect before the memory of all the victims who, from independence to the present day, have marked the painful path toward a fully realized democracy. I express the Nation’s solidarity with their families, friends, and comrades in struggle.
My role as the guarantor of national unity is to extend a hand to all, to reassure, unite, pacify, and reconcile, in order to strengthen the peace and stability essential to our country’s economic development. In this dynamic, the government will fully assume its mission, and the opposition will be respected and free to exercise its rights, within the bounds of the law.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our country’s recent political history compels us to reform for posterity:
To reform to strengthen democratic achievements and ensure greater stability for our institutions;
To reform to eliminate all seeds of discord in our electoral system, particularly between the government and the opposition.
Today, our democracy cannot afford to overlook reflection on:The rationalization of the electoral calendar;
The creation of an independent national electoral commission;
The functioning of bodies responsible for organizing elections;
Access to and management of the electoral register;
The rationalization of political parties and their funding;
The role of the judiciary in the electoral process;
The digitization of the electoral process;
The status of the opposition, which must have real substance;
The automatic registration of first-time voters;
The duration of electoral campaigns;
And the modalities of candidate sponsorship, among others.
These consultations, fortunately held outside of any electoral deadlines, offer a unique opportunity to reflect with serenity and clarity on the future of our political system. Together, we have the responsibility to rethink our institutions, drawing on the fundamental principles of democracy, respect for individual and collective freedoms, and the necessary constitutional and legislative reforms.
Senegalese men and women have actively contributed to this reflection by submitting over thirteen thousand (13,000) proposals through the Jubbanti platform, launched on Friday, May 9, 2025.
Beyond our compatriots’ high expectations for the outcomes of these discussions, this enthusiasm is an encouragement to all participants and an urgent call to act responsibly to achieve strong and productive consensus. The Senegalese people are watching!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At this solemn moment, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the General Facilitator of the 2025 National Dialogue, Dr. Cheikh Gueye, for agreeing to lead these proceedings. Mr. Facilitator General, your recognized integrity and unwavering commitment to republican values are, I am convinced, guarantees of this process’s success.
I also wish to salute, with respect and gratitude, all the actors who have answered the call for dialogue. Your presence here today testifies to your commitment to the Republic, to civil peace, and to the greatness of our democracy.
I fervently hope that your discussions will be marked by responsibility, attentiveness, and self-transcendence; that they will yield bold and realistic proposals; and that they will be guided at every moment by the supreme interest of Senegal.
With this, strengthened by our shared commitment and my unwavering dedication to democratic values and national cohesion, I declare the proceedings of the National Dialogue on the Political System open.
May God bless Senegal.
Thank you for your attention.