On Monday, director of the Timbuktu Institute Bakary Sambe invited authorities to put in place an “inclusive national strategy” to prevent and counter violent extremism.

“This is a solemn call to the Senegalese government to institute an inclusive national strategy to prevent and counter violent extremism,” he declared.

Dr. Sambe’s remarks were part of a speech given at the closing ceremony of the Institute’s “Educating for Peace” program, which was conducted with the support of the American embassy.

For him, it is urgent to develop such a strategy “considering the constant mutation of the terrorism phenomenon.” He elaborated the Senegalese plan should be “part of a broader sub regional network,” and that authorities should not “neglect to integrate regional systems of cooperation” into the plan.

Dr. Sambe also indicated that the creation of the strategy should involve religious and civil society leaders as well as researchers, and should use education as a central policy pillar.

“The Institute implores Senegalese authorities to work with their African and International partners to put in place and operationalize a collaborative platform to anticipate risks,” said Sambe.

Specifically, Sambe cited homegrown terrorism, a risk all countries in the region are working to counter and prevent.

Tulinabo Salama Mushingi, United States Ambassador to Senegal, “by emphasizing dialogue and interaction, a new generation will understand the value of of the exchange of beliefs, thoughts, and ideas.”

His Excellency continued, “tolerance does not imply a lack of engagement in regards to the beliefs of others, rather, it condemns the oppression and persecution of other’s beliefs.”

He concluded “in this program [Educating for Peace], it is not a question of changing another’s opinion. Instead, it seeks to understand the perspectives of others in order to live peacefully.”