From our correspondent in Dakar

In place of the annual May 28 national dialogue day established by former president Macky Sall in 2016, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has announced plans to hold ten days of consultations with key societal groups, including NGOs, political parties, traditional leaders, and religious figures.

« This reflects his image as a leader who values dialogue, » notes Maurice Soundieck Dione, a political science professor at Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis. While the head of state aims to make consultation « his governing style, » these meetings also serve as a response to criticism from opposition parties, which have voiced concerns over the lack of input in contentious electoral law reforms and the rushed passage of constitutional amendments.

Prime minister Ousmane Sonko addresses parliament

Almost simultaneously, the other leader of the executive branch, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, is set to address lawmakers in the National Assembly on Friday, May 22.

This fifth session of current affairs questions is part of the official calendar, but its timing raises questions. To avoid potential overlap, « a better coordination between the two would have been advisable, » states analyst Assane Samb. Yet in today’s political climate—where the two leaders are seen as « rival partners at the helm of the state »—such scheduling is hardly surprising, according to political science professor Maurice Soundieck Dione. Each appears determined to « assert their presence » in Senegal’s political landscape.