As Senegal prepares for its national consultations from May 21 to 31, 2026, the country stands at a pivotal moment in its recent political history. By opting for targeted consultations—scheduled around religious festivities rather than large-scale political gatherings—President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is signaling a shift toward institutional consolidation and a reaffirmation of presidential authority.
This strategic move unfolds against a backdrop of palpable tensions at the highest levels of government. Complex dynamics with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, divisions within the ruling majority, societal unrest, and regional and international pressures demand that Senegal prioritize stability, cohesion, and collective responsibility above all else.
The upcoming consultations are far from routine. They represent a critical juncture to prevent the country from sinking into a prolonged political crisis with unpredictable consequences. Senegal now faces an unprecedented institutional configuration: a parliamentary majority politically aligned with the Prime Minister, a structured opposition centered around the party of former President Macky Sall, and a President tasked with safeguarding institutional balance and national unity.
This reality calls for clarity, accountability, and transcendence. Governance in Senegal can no longer operate on exclusionary logic. Politics, at its core, is about shaping reality—three key poles now emerge as essential in securing long-term stability: the presidential bloc rooted in the Diomaye coalition, the political force centered around Pastef, and the opposition organized around the APR and its allies in the Front démocratique républicain.
The choices these forces—and their supporters—make will determine the outcome of the consultations. The goal is to establish a consensus-driven update of the rules governing a renewed Republic—one that is more stable, balanced, and capable of preventing the recurring crises that have weakened our democracy for years.
Beyond the prominent political figures of the moment, every national voice must contribute to this renewal: political parties and personalities, labor unions, civil society, religious and customary authorities, the private sector, academia, youth, women, and representatives of the Nation’s vital forces.
Senegal needs a new pacte de responsabilité nationale—a clear framework where the majority, opposition, and institutions agree on shared rules, respected by all, transcending narrow partisan interests and perpetual confrontation.
The lessons of history are clear: no democracy endures without intelligent compromises among its major political forces. Well-timed compromises strengthen nations; deferred or rejected ones often lead to conflicts where everyone loses, including the country itself.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye now stands at this historic juncture. His challenge is to rise above the weight of partisan politics and transform this period of tension into an opportunity to rebuild Senegal’s democracy. The hope is that wisdom, foresight, and a commitment to the national interest prevail across all sectors. For the exclusive benefit of Senegal.
By Abdou Fall
Former Minister of State