Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye initiated a national consultation on Tuesday aimed at reforming and modernizing the country’s justice system.
This move marks a significant priority for the new leader, who secured his election victory just ten days after his release from prison.
President Faye, alongside Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and several party members, was imprisoned during former President Macky Sall’s tenure.
They have consistently criticized the justice system’s manipulation over the past three years and campaigned on a platform promising comprehensive reforms.
During his address, Faye emphasized the necessity for a “profound overhaul” of Senegal’s justice system, pointing to recent unrest that has unsettled the West African nation.
“The problem and urgency (of reforming the justice system) calls out to all of us, above and beyond any partisan considerations,” Faye stated.
The national consultation, the fourth edition of the “national dialogue” initiative introduced by Sall, includes industry professionals, university professors, and members of the opposition and civil society.
The meetings, set to continue until June 4, are being held at a conference center in Diamniadio, near the capital Dakar.
Key topics include the duration of criminal trials, detention conditions, and the social reintegration of prisoners.
President Faye highlighted the goal of the consultation: “The purpose of this exercise is to help us pave the way for a pragmatic reform of our justice system so that it is more inspiring to those who come before it and preserves its dignity.”
He also stressed that the initiative is not intended to assign blame but to ensure a balanced approach, warning against establishing a “republic of judges,” which he believes could undermine the principles of democracy.
An online platform has also been launched for citizens to contribute their views on judicial reform.
