The upcoming national consultations scheduled from May 21 to May 31, 2026, mark a pivotal moment in Senegal’s recent political history. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has chosen targeted consultations—adjusted for religious observances—over large-scale political gatherings, signaling a strategic institutional shift and reaffirmation of presidential authority.
a delicate balancing act in turbulent times
This initiative unfolds against a backdrop of visible tensions at the highest levels of government. Complex dynamics with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, internal divisions within the ruling majority, societal unrest, and regional and international pressures demand nothing short of stability, cohesion, and responsibility from Senegal.
These consultations are far from routine. They represent a decisive step to prevent the country from descending into a protracted political crisis with unpredictable consequences.
an unprecedented institutional landscape
Senegal now faces an unparalleled 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. No actor can govern sustainably through exclusionary tactics.
three pivotal political poles
The political landscape today revolves around three key poles essential for achieving lasting stability: the presidential bloc from the Diomaye coalition, the political force rooted in Pastef, and the opposition anchored by the APR and its allies within the Republican Democratic Front.
The choices these forces—and their supporters—make during these consultations will shape their outcome.
The goal is clear: to establish a consensus-driven update of the rules governing Senegal’s democracy in a renewed, more stable, and balanced Republic, better equipped to prevent recurring crises that have weakened our democracy for years.
a call for national renewal
Beyond the prominent political figures of the moment, all national stakeholders must contribute to this revitalization: political parties and personalities, trade unions, civil society, religious and customary authorities, the private sector, academia, youth, women, and representatives of the nation’s vital forces.
Senegal urgently needs a new pact of national responsibility—a transparent framework where the majority, opposition, and institutions agree on shared rules, respected by all, transcending partisan interests and perpetual confrontation.
The lessons of history are unequivocal: no democracy endures without intelligent compromises among its key political forces. Such compromises, struck at the right moment, strengthen nations. Delayed or rejected, they 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 weighty logic of partisan games and transform this period of tension into an opportunity to rebuild Senegal’s democracy.
We can only hope that wisdom, foresight, and the higher calling of national interest prevail among all stakeholders. For the exclusive service of Senegal.
By Abdou Fall
Former State Minister
