The President of the Republic evoked the politico-social context, marked by violence, during his opening speech of the national dialogue. “Every physical violence, every verbal violence, every word of hate, every private or public property ransacked, and above all, every Senegalese killed leaves a deep wound to our country, to our humanity, and to the Senegalese nation”, said Macky Sall. 

However, the Head of State keeps faith in Senegal’s ability to overcome these hardships: “If need be, I would like to reassure you that the State is and will remain standing, to protect the nation, the Republic and its institutions. Together, with all the socio-political components that love peace, stability and national cohesion, we have a joint duty to defend our model of society, which resembles us and brings us together. This is one of the fundamental reasons for this national dialogue”.

Here is the entire speech. 

“Mr. President of the National Assembly,

Prime Minister,

Madam President of the High Council of Territorial Communities,

Mr. President of the Economic,

Social and Environmental Council,

Madam President of the High Council for Social Dialogue, 

Mr. High Representative of the President of the Republic,

Ladies and gentlemen,

leaders of political parties and coalitions of political parties, 

Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of employers, trade unions and civil society,

Dear religious and customary authorities,

Ladies and gentlemen in your ranks, titles and qualities,

My dear compatriots here and in the diaspora, 

First of all, I would like to thank you all, ladies and gentlemen, for having agreed to respond to my call for this national dialogue; appeal that I launched in my message to the nation, on the occasion of Independence Day, and that I reiterated on the day of Korité. 

This meeting is not a first, because the diisso is part of our socio-cultural identity.  

This is why I have established dialogue as a principle of governance which, transcending the face-to-face power-opposition, integrates all the living forces of the nation; because national life cannot be monopolized by political antagonisms alone, to the detriment of other priorities of common interest.  

This is why our previous national consultations focused on various areas such as:
the future of higher education; the reform of Institutions, at the origin of the constitutional referendum of March 2016 which conferred on the National Assembly the new prerogatives of evaluation of public policies, and the appointment of two (2) members of the Constitutional Council by the President National Assembly ;
local authorities (which led to Act 3 of decentralization); 
political dialogue, which enabled the reform of the Electoral Code, of which the election of mayors and presidents of departmental councils by direct universal suffrage constitute two major innovations;
social dialogue, which gave birth to the High Council for Social Dialogue and social conferences;
and very recently the national consultations on the fight against the high cost of living.      
It is in the same spirit that I established May 28 as National Dialogue Day. 

Today, my dear compatriots, the need for consultation is even more pressing, as the whole world continues to suffer the cumulative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and a major war, the extent of which no one can predict. , nor the end. Added to this, for us, is the immediate threat linked to the advance of terrorism in the Sahel, which has finished reaching countries hitherto spared. 

In addition, the presidential election deadline of February 2024 imposes itself as a subject of dialogue. 
I would like to say here that the government will take all the necessary measures to organize a peaceful, democratic, free and transparent election, as our country is so good at doing; including in January and July 2022. 
I do not forget the challenge of youth, training, employment and entrepreneurship. We have done a lot within the framework of instruments such as the Training Centers, the State-Employers Convention, the DER/FJ, the 3FPT, the ANPEJ and the XËYU NDAW ÑI Programme. 

But there is obviously still a lot to be done to improve the employability of young people and overcome unemployment.
Another challenge that deserves concerted action is the forthcoming exploitation of our gas and oil resources. 
All these questions concern us as a nation, beyond our differences and our divergences.

It is therefore our duty to come together to deliberate on our common affairs, with respect for our democratic achievements, respect for the rules on which the Senegalese nation is founded, the rule of law, the Republic and its institutions, respect for our Justice, respect for our Defense and Security Forces, respect for public property and private property, respect for our religious denominations and their guides. 
It is all this that forms our model of society that we have the individual and collective responsibility to bring to life and protect.

The regime of freedom that we have chosen goes hand in hand with the requirement of responsibility. There is no democracy without freedom, just as there can be no freedom without responsibility. All freedom has as counterpart the responsibility which limits its abuses. 

This means that this dialogue must mark our individual and collective commitment to revive the values ​​that underpin our living together in peace, stability and social harmony. Adhering to these values ​​means banishing physical and verbal violence, as well as hate speech and stigma. Every physical violence, every verbal violence, every word of hate, every private or public property ransacked, and above all, every Senegalese killed leaves a deep wound to our country, to our humanity, and to the Senegalese nation.  I take this opportunity to renew my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and to wish a speedy recovery to the injured. If need be, I would like to reassure you that the State is and will remain standing, to protect the nation, the Republic and its Institutions. 

Together, with all the socio-political components that love peace, stability and national cohesion, we have a joint duty to defend our model of society, which resembles us and brings us together. 
This is one of the fundamental reasons for this national dialogue.
It is in our common interest. As I recalled in my message of December 31, 2022, we are because Senegal is. No one should imagine themselves bigger or stronger than this nation that shelters us all. 

Ladies and Gentlemen , 
Here and now, it is the nation that speaks to us, because it demands peace. It is each and every one of you who speaks with your Senegal whom you love, because you will prolong here by your words, by your suggestions, by your respect for the values ​​of dialogue, our aspiration for peace, for democracy and for the Senegal of economic and social progress which will be able to take charge of its future.

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished participants, 
Other challenges challenge us, including the exploitation of our oil, gas and mining resources. 
Experience in Africa amply proves that these resources often arouse greed, geostrategic rivalries and malicious acts, ranging from piracy to sabotage and even terrorism. 

As to govern is to foresee, we wish the best while preparing for the worst. 
This is why we have considerably reinforced the operational capacities of our Defense and Security Forces, so that at all times and in all places, they are equal to their mission of monitoring our natural resources. 
I would like to renew here my firm determination for the secure, transparent, inclusive and sustainable exploitation of our resources. 

Thus, according to the provisions of the Constitution resulting from the March 2016 referendum, “Natural resources belong to the people. They are used to improve their living conditions. The exploitation and management of natural resources must be done transparently and in a way that generates economic growth, promotes the well-being of the population in general and is environmentally sustainable”. In application of this constitutional norm, the government has adopted a series of measures, including: the revision of our mining, oil and gas codes, by integrating the standards of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to which I made our country adhere in 2013;  
laws on revenue sharing from future hydrocarbon exploitation between current and future generations, and on local content, to support domestic private sector participation in the exploitation of our natural resources; 
the creation of a register of beneficial owners in the extractive sector; 
and the amendment of the General Tax Code to extend the obligation to declare beneficial owners to all sectors of economic life in Senegal. 

Moreover, our efforts in terms of transparent management of extractive resources have been recognized by the EITI. I will not go back here on the excellent assessments in the October 2021 evaluation of the EITI Board on Senegal.
In the same vein, in 2016 we set up the Oil and Gas Strategic Orientation Committee, COS-PETROGAZ, responsible for advising the President of the Republic and the government on all issues related to the oil and gas sectors. 
I will also soon chair an extended meeting of COS-PETROGAZ, to take stock of:
the progress of oil and gas projects and the “gas to power” strategy, production of electricity from domestic gas;
the results and prospects for the development of local content in the hydrocarbons and mining sector;
the expected results, orientations and economic and social impacts of the national policy for the management of oil and gas resources; and the governance of public companies and agencies in the energy sector. 
I also remind you that in 2017 we created the National Oil and Gas Institute.

The INPG has so far trained 78 engineers and technicians who are already operational. Our objective is to broaden the spectrum of training to integrate other trades, including highly qualified lawyers in this complex field; because if we want to better control the exploitation of our resources, we need to have diversified and quality human capital.
In addition, thanks to the law on local content, I would like the national private sector to invest more in the value chain of the gas and oil sector in order to create new job opportunities and income-generating activities. for our young people.
I want to reiterate here the government’s constant availability to discuss the exploitation of our natural resources on a healthy, calm and informed basis. No question is taboo. In the same way, in addition to political questions and those specific to natural resources, this national dialogue could focus on other subjects, in particular economic and social.
Tested by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and despite a difficult economic situation, the government has taken a set of measures to support households and businesses; tax measures, price subsidies for basic necessities and wage increases, in addition to support for the most vulnerable social strata through family security grants.
The State has also made a considerable effort to reduce public expenditure, in particular on its lifestyle.

During this dialogue, we can discuss ways and means to better support our private sector, reduce the cost of living and optimize public spending. Regarding the format of the dialogue, taking advantage of past experience, we could renew the same Commissions, namely:
 policy; 

economic and social ;

living environment and environment;

 peace and security;

natural resources ; 

good governance and the fight against corruption; 

administration, decentralization and territorialization of public policies;  

finally, Synthesis Committee.

On the political dialogue aspect, I recommend that you conduct consultations so as to consolidate our democratic achievements through new consensus on the Electoral Code, the electoral process and civil and political rights. 
I have appointed my High Representative, Mr. Moustapha Niasse, former President of the National Assembly, to represent me in the dialogue and ensure its conduct if you agree. 

With regard to its structuring, I would like it to be inclusive, by integrating into the blocks made up of the presidential majority, the opposition and the non-aligned, the representatives of religious and customary leaders, as well as those of civil society. . 

I will, for my part, remain attentive to your conclusions. 
Once again, thank you for the valuable time and effort you are going to devote to this meeting. 
It is a great cause, greater than each of us; because it is national, involves all of us, and makes each of us an essential player in our collective success.

I am confident that we can make it happen, if we tap into the wisdom of our elders and the creative genius of our people. 

I strongly encourage you to do so and wish you every success in the work of the national dialogue.”