Senegalese religious leaders call for national cohesion and broader public debate

Serigne Habib Ndaw, an octogenarian religious figure in Senegal, published a tribune urging intellectuals, scholars, artists and religious authorities to break their silence and re‑engage in public debate. He warned that a nation declines when its guiding voices remain quiet, not when opinions differ, and called for greater media pluralism and diverse republican sensibilities, invoking historic Senegalese values and figures such as Léopold Sédar Senghor.

Seydina Oumar Touré, another Senegalese religious leader, issued a social‑media statement urging citizens to preserve national cohesion despite political disagreements. He highlighted Senegal’s long‑standing inter‑faith harmony among Muslims, Christians and others, urging restraint, rejection of insults and stigmatization, and emphasising dialogue, respect and shared values as the foundation of social unity.

Both leaders stressed the need for inclusive discourse and unity as Senegal navigates rising political tensions.