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Ansoumana Dione urges President Diomaye to begin national dialogue with former heads of state, arguing they embody Senegal's sovereignty and historical lessons, making them essential for healing and inclusive conversation.

The national dialogue launched by Bassirou Diomaye Faye is a long-awaited initiative, but its architecture is already stirring debate. This Thursday, May 21, 2026, the president began a series of meetings with former prime ministers. A consultative gesture, yes, but one that raises questions about the hierarchy of memories being summoned.

Ansoumana Dione, founding president of the Senegalese Association for Monitoring and Assistance to the Mentally Ill, did not mince words. In a reaction that carries the voice of a demanding civil society, he urges Diomaye to start with former heads of state. "Why not first sit with those who embodied Senegal's sovereignty?" he seems to ask, between the lines.

Behind this challenge lies a whole conception of dialogue. Former presidents are not mere symbols: they carry decades of continuity, ruptures, and compromises. Bypassing them risks repeating the mistakes of the past without having grasped its lessons. Dione, a field man who witnesses the nation's mental fragilities, reminds us that healing a country begins with honoring its roots.

The new format of national dialogue promises to be inclusive, but inclusion is not decreed: it is built through the order of priorities. By starting with former prime ministers, the president makes a choice. Dione invites him to make another, more foundational one. For in Senegal, the voice of former heads of state is not an option: it is a cornerstone.

National Dialogue: Ansoumana Dione Urges Diomaye to Start with Former Heads of State

Adama Mbodj, dubbed "the Facebook hunter," was arrested in Richard-Toll for sexually harassing men by sending money to gain trust before explicit conversations. His case highlights digital predation exploiting economic vulnerability in Senegal.

In Richard-Toll, a northern Senegalese town where secrets travel fast along the river, a case unlike any before is shaking local quiet. Adama Mbodj, whom investigators already call 'the Facebook hunter,' was arrested by the local police station after a complaint filed by one S. Diop. He is accused of sexually harassing several men — a case that, by its method, reveals the new frontiers of predation in the digital age.

According to initial reports from Libération, Mbodj reportedly confessed during questioning. He even admitted to using the same modus operandi with at least three other men, between Saint-Louis and Dakar. Investigators, upon examining his phone, discovered WhatsApp exchanges with explicit content, similar to those sent to the complainant. Repeated attempts at seduction, messages that leave little room for doubt.

What strikes in this case is the targeting strategy. Mbodj, according to investigators, primarily targeted people from modest backgrounds. He approached them on Facebook, got their phone numbers, then engaged in private conversations. To gain their trust, he sent them small sums of money, claiming to help with food needs. A method that, while troubling, has not yet formally established the existence of sexual relations. The evidence, for now, is limited to discussions and attempts at approach.

This case reminds us, if needed, that predation knows no borders — geographic, social, or gender. In Senegal, where digital solidarity is often celebrated, it also exposes the cracks in a space where economic vulnerability can be exploited. The investigation, led by the Richard-Toll police station, will determine if other victims hide in the shadow of deleted conversations. Meanwhile, the 'hunter' is in a cage, and the web holds its breath.

Adama Mbodj, 'The Facebook Hunter,' Behind Bars in Richard-Toll

During his handover as Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko pledged the National Assembly would support the government, but only if it serves Senegal's supreme interest, signaling a demanding partnership.

On Friday, at the Prime Minister's office in Dakar, the handover between Ahmadou Al Aminou and Ousmane Sonko was more than a bureaucratic formality. It was a political moment, heavy with symbolism and expectation. In a Senegal watching every move of its new leaders, Sonko chose to open his tenure with a clear pledge: the National Assembly will not be a hindrance but a demanding partner.

"The National Assembly will support the government in the interest of Senegal," he assured, setting an immediate condition: that this supreme interest remains the guiding star. The words echo beyond the walls of the Prime Minister's office. They signal that the dialogue between the executive and the legislature will not be a monologue, that the majority will not be a rubber-stamp chamber.

Sonko, a former opposition figure now leading the government, knows the weight of words. By insisting on Senegal's supreme interest, he reminds that politics is not a power game but a mission. This is not wishful thinking: it is a contract with the Senegalese people, who expect concrete action.

The statement comes at a time of immense expectations. After months of political tension, the Senegalese people yearn for transparent, effective governance squarely focused on development. Sonko knows this. By linking the National Assembly to this momentum, he sketches a vision: a Republic where every institution plays its part, without discord.

How this promise will translate into action remains to be seen. But for now, the message is clear: in Senegal, the time for rear-guard battles is over. It is time to build a shared future.