Senegal holds national dialogue on economic, social challenges

Senegalese President Macky Sall over the weekend launched a national dialogue bringing together participants from various political parties, civil society groups, trade unions, employers' associations and religious as well as traditional leaders.

The objective of the dialogue is to find consensus on implementation of constitutional reforms adopted during the March 20 referendum.

Participants discussed issues concerning security, funding of political parties and the electoral code.

The president used the occasion to express his desire for consensus with stakeholders in the health and education sectors which have been hit by recurrent strikes in the recent past.

He urged the national private sector players to reinforce their involvement in economic development and in the creation of jobs to address the challenge of unemployment.

Sall promised to support security forces by providing them with necessary equipment to effectively fight against terrorism.

Some of the participants asked for "a presidential pardon" for Karim Wade, the son to ex-president Abdoulaye Wade (200-2012), who was sentenced to prison over corruption.

They asked other opposition parties such as Rewmi of ex-prime minister Idrissa Seck and Bock Guis-Guis of ex-president of parliament, Pape Diop, to rejoin the dialogue table. Endit