In Dakar, President Macky Sall launches a "national dialogue" intended to ease tensions and involving political forces, civil society, religious leaders and trade unions. Attendees are invited to discuss key issues less than a year before the next presidential election. The talks will last 15 days. A large part of the opposition has chosen to boycott this dialogue, which kicked off one day before the expected verdict in the trial of prominent opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who is accused of rape. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES