Macky Sall launches controversial national dialogue

Senegal’s President Macky Sall launched Wednesday a national dialogue initiative supposed to appease the political tension in the country, but rejected by a chunk of the opposition, including main rival Ousmane Sonko.
“There can be no democracy without freedom, just as there can be no freedom without responsibility. Every piece of physical violence, every piece of verbal violence, every word of hatred, every piece of private or public property ransacked and, above all, every Senegalese killed is a deep wound to our country, and no one should imagine that they are greater or stronger than this Nation that shelters us all. Together with all the socio-political components that are keen on peace, stability and national cohesion, we must jointly defend our model of society. This is one of the fundamental reasons for this national dialogue”, the Senegalese President said.
The dialogue takes place 9 months ahead of February 2024 presidential elections amid electric political environment and popular unrest in the run-up to a court verdict against Sonko.
While majority of the Yewwi Askan, a coalition of the opposition which includes Sonko turned down attendance in the dialogue, some key parties in the opposition namely Parti Democratique Senegalais of former President Abdoulaye Wade and Taxawu Senegal and former Mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall, are attending.
Sall has been facing rejection from opposition and part of the population over his alleged plans to seek another third term in office. He is feared to be planning an amendment of the Constitution. He has not unveiled his intent yet.