Recent scenes of violence that have shaken Senegalese universities, marked by clashes and destruction of property, have reignited concerns about the stability of the higher education system. Faced with this deteriorating climate that threatens the academic mission, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI), in partnership with the High Council for Social Dialogue (HCDS), has taken a decisive step by establishing the Ministry's Sectoral Committee for Social Dialogue.

For the president of the HCDS, Mamadou Lamine Dianté, this initiative reflects the highest authorities' commitment to promoting a culture of prevention. He believes that the response to tensions cannot be solely security-based and that this new body must offer stakeholders the opportunity to build lasting stability. According to him, "this committee will provide the various university stakeholders with the opportunity to contribute, through a culture of conflict prevention, constructive dialogue, and ongoing consultation, to the lasting pacification of the university environment." He also emphasizes that this appeasement is the essential condition for "continuing to equip our country with high-quality human capital."

Minister Daouda Ngom, for his part, emphasized the urgency of this initiative in what he considers a particularly sensitive context. Recalling Kofi Annan's view that dialogue is a necessity, not a luxury, the minister outlined the structure of this new body. "This committee, I reiterate, should be neither a platform for demands nor a forum for negotiation. It will primarily serve as a barometer of the social climate, a tool for monitoring, anticipating, and preventing problems," he stated, thus defining the body as a mediation mechanism for the benefit of the entire university community.

This dynamic is part of a broader movement already underway within major institutions such as Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis, and Cheikh Hamidou Kane Digital University. For two days, participants in this workshop examined the root causes of the violence in order to develop strategies for a lasting resolution. The issue goes beyond simply pacifying campuses, as the instability jeopardizes the ambitions of the National Transformation Agenda "Senegal 2050".

In conclusion, Minister Daouda Ngom quoted Nelson Mandela, recalling that "lasting peace cannot be imposed; it must be built through dialogue." This installation thus marks the beginning of an era in which consultation becomes the primary governance tool for ensuring academic excellence and student safety.