The Senegalese Press and Publications Company (SSPP) Le Soleil launched the first edition of the "Soleil" Great Encounters on Tuesday, February 10.

According to the director general, this is "a new framework for dialogue and reflection intended to enrich public debate." This event is part of the launch of the magazine "Retrospective 2025," a publication that looks back at the major events that marked the past year.

Held under the theme "Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and the Rural Economy by 2050", the ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, Mabouba Diagne. It brought together public decision-makers, experts, heads of institutions, stakeholders in agricultural sectors, and representatives of the rural community.

Indeed, the managing director of "Le Soleil," Lamine Niang, emphasized the strategic role of the national newspaper in shaping public debate and collective memory. "Our national newspaper must not be limited to simply reporting the news. It must be able to question, guide, and put current events into perspective for the benefit of our readers, citizens, and the future of our country," he declared.

According to him, the launch of the magazine "Retrospective 2025" contributes to this editorial ambition by revisiting the major issues that marked the year, including administration, public finances, hydrocarbons, the education system, and the crisis in the construction sector.

"As a national daily newspaper, revisiting the key events also helps to nourish the national collective memory," argued the CEO of "Le Soleil".

On the same note, he believes that these initiatives reflect the media outlet's desire to support Senegal's changes "with rigor, professionalism and responsibility".

Regarding the decision to dedicate the first panel to agriculture and food sovereignty, Lamine Niang stated that these themes point to a central question: Senegal's capacity to sustainably feed its population while ensuring decent living conditions for producers. "Is Senegal capable of sustainably feeding its people while guaranteeing the dignity and prosperity of those who produce?" he asked, emphasizing that agriculture plays a central role in the Senegal 2050 vision.

He nevertheless called for moving beyond declarations of intent to focus on the realities on the ground, particularly the difficulties related to access to land, water, financing, credit, and markets. "How do we move from rhetoric to reality? How do we move from the figures we often hear to what producers and the farming community actually experience?" he asked.

Through the "Sun" Grand Meetings, the SSPP aims to provide an inclusive forum for exchange between experts, decision-makers, and citizens. According to Lamine Niang, the objective is not to assign blame, but to foster understanding of the issues and the development of solutions.

“We are not looking for who is right or who is wrong, but how to propose, understand and listen. Experts exist, but they often stay in their corner. If we take the time to listen to them, they have a lot of proposals to make,” he stressed.

The Director General of "Le Soleil" also expressed his desire to make this initiative a long-term event, establishing it as a regular component of the national debate. "We hope that these meetings will contribute to the innovation of the debate and allow them to be included in the annual agenda of public debate in Senegal," he stated.

Furthermore, he announces that other themes will be addressed in future editions.

He also reaffirmed the national daily newspaper's commitment to providing extensive media coverage of these exchanges, notably through live broadcasting, the publication of extracts and in-depth editorial monitoring.