Le Sénégal à la croisée des chemins : Le Pënc d’AfrikaJom Center pose sur l’avenir de la démocratie sénégalaise
Senegal is at a pivotal moment in its history. Senegalese democracy, considered one of the most vibrant in Africa, is being tested. Recent events have shown that the country has a great capacity to overcome crises, but several experts believe it is necessary to find preventative mechanisms through ongoing dialogue.
It is in this perspective that the national day of reflection launched on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, by AfrikaJom Center through the Agora/Penc program was held, which saw the participation of political actors from all sides, parliamentarians, academics, civil society actors, etc.
In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Alioune Tine, founder of the AfrikaJom Center think tank, stated that the country is at a turning point, marked by uncertainty and questioning. "Senegalese democracy is vibrant, but it is incomplete," he declared. "Senegalese people must come together to discuss strategic and national issues, to find solutions together," argued the leading figure of Senegalese civil society.
He stressed that democracy is an ongoing process that requires constant effort to improve. "Democracy is like sculpture; it needs to be worked on, discussed, and built together," he said.
Today, Alioune Tine points out, "we created the Penc to make it, if you will, a periodic opportunity for Senegalese people from all walks of life to meet. Today, perhaps there are members of parliament, another time we will have a Penc (Agora) with fishermen to talk about fishing. We will have a Penc with traders, politicians, etc. And this will allow us to exchange ideas and interact on economic, political, and institutional issues."
Senegal has gone through difficult times, notably the political crisis of 2012 and the recent political demonstrations from 2021 to 2024. But the country has managed to get back on its feet thanks to the mobilization of citizens and the commitment of the judiciary through the Constitutional Council.
However, according to Mr. Tine, it is time to ask the right questions. How can Senegal consolidate its democracy? How can it guarantee political and economic stability? How can citizen participation and transparency in the management of public affairs be promoted?
According to him, the answer to these questions lies in the establishment of a deliberative and participatory democracy. "Citizens must be at the heart of the decision-making process, they must be informed and they must be able to participate in public debates," he insists.
According to him, justice was "our problem," but it was also "the solution" during the last political crisis. "During those extremely difficult times, the whole world followed. People forget that even American senators intervened during that time. I'm not talking about the Africans. So the world followed what happened and saw the miracle we achieved," Alioune Tine recalls.
Who thinks that "we are going through an interesting time because crises are necessary as long as we can learn the best lessons to bring about change and a resurgence".
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