The Council of Ministers met on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE, President of the Republic.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
At the opening of the meeting, the Head of State extended his New Year’s greetings to the members of the Government, the entire Administration, the Defence and Security Forces, the Diaspora, and all the vital forces of Senegal. He then focused his communication on the following points:
Accelerating the implementation of public policies, programmes and projects across the territories
The President of the Republic noted that his Address to the Nation on December 31, 2025, made it possible to review the achievements of the State and to outline major programmes, projects and investments.
Recalling to the Government the requirement for results in the implementation of approved sectoral policy letters, he instructed the Prime Minister to present a monthly update on the status of implementation of the legislative and regulatory agenda and the 2026 Government Action Plan.
The Head of State emphasized the improvement of household purchasing power, the sustained recovery of the national economy, the revitalization of the infrastructure, construction, building and public works sectors, as well as high value-added export sectors such as horticulture, tourism, fisheries and handicrafts.
He pointed out that the year 2026 must be devoted to revitalizing national solidarity and expanding social programmes and interventions, with a special focus on employment and the social and solidarity economy, through the scaling up of cooperatives.
Furthermore, after instructing the Prime Minister to expedite the establishment of Territorial Poles before the end of the first half of 2026, the President of the Republic asked him to work on strengthening decentralization and deconcentration of public action.
Highlighting the imperative of consolidating a proximity-based State, an efficient and high-performing administration, and the digitalization of procedures, the President of the Republic decided to place the next Conference of Public Administrators and Managers (CAMP) under the theme “Quality of Public Service” and the fifth Social Conference under the theme “Productivity at Work.”
In addition, the Head of State indicated to the Prime Minister the urgency of accelerating the restructuring of the public sector, with a view to streamlining the functioning of public administrations and the parapublic sector. He also underscored his strong commitment to the implementation of health sector reforms, the optimization of public financing systems, the regular functioning of universities and public higher education institutions, the development of vocational and technical training, and the smooth conduct of the academic year.
Moreover, the Head of State stressed to the Government the absolute priority to be given to youth through the coherent deployment of youth, education and sports policies. He also emphasized the need for the Government to be fully prepared in time for the successful organization of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Finally, he instructed the Prime Minister to ensure the implementation of a government communication strategy focused on a results-oriented culture and the presentation of tangible achievements.
Monitoring of the groundnut marketing campaign and perspectives of agricultural policy
Considering that the agricultural marketing campaign is a crucial period in national economic and social life, the President of the Republic instructed the Prime Minister to take all appropriate measures to ensure optimal financing and marketing conditions for agricultural production.
He also recalled the need for a consensual refoundation of agricultural policy, based on water control, expansion of irrigated schemes, improvement of equipment and yields, development of storage and preservation facilities, and the concerted revision of financing and subsidy frameworks. This refoundation includes the restructuring of agricultural markets, the redefinition of the economic model of agriculture, and the development of national agro-industry.
Finally, the Head of State instructed the Government to ensure the adoption, by the Council of Ministers before the end of January 2026, of the draft framework law on agro-sylvo-pastoral and fisheries policy and its implementing regulations.
Improving the business environment
Welcoming Senegal’s ranking in the World Bank’s Business Ready 2025 report, the President of the Republic congratulated the Government, APIX, and private sector stakeholders for the collective efforts made and the performances achieved in improving the business climate in Senegal, despite the difficult global context.
To this end, he instructed the Prime Minister and the Government to continue reforms to the business environment, to assess the effective materialization of commitments, partnerships and investments concluded during the second edition of the “Invest in Senegal” Forum, and to prepare for the holding of the Presidential Investment Council during the second half of March 2026.
Agenda of the President of the Republic
The Head of State informed the Council that he will pay an official visit to Kuwait from January 12 to 14, 2026. He will also take part in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week on January 15, 2026.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATION OF THE PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister focused his communication on the following points:
Supervision of agricultural campaigns
The Prime Minister recalled the tour he conducted in the groundnut basin to assess the progress of the groundnut marketing system and to measure the effective implementation of the orientations set by the Government. This mission enabled direct exchanges with stakeholders (producers, economic operators, industrial oil processors, transporters, bankers, local authorities and State technical services) and the identification of persistent operational constraints related to compliance with the floor price, lack of financial liquidity and payment fluidity, export taxation, insufficient collection points, and delays in truck unloading.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the priority the Government attaches to the groundnut marketing campaign. In this regard, the State remains fully committed to guaranteeing a fair price to producers, ensuring payment fluidity, securing collection and transport circuits, protecting industrial facilities, and ensuring the rigorous implementation of decisions arising from dedicated interministerial councils.
The Prime Minister highlighted the measures adopted by the Government in this framework. For SONACOS, the target was raised from 250,000 tonnes to 450,000 tonnes. Regarding financing, the Minister of Finance and Budget mobilized CFAF 50 billion, including CFAF 22 billion from the Agricultural Bank (LBA) and CFAF 28 billion from the National Bank for Economic Development (BNDE), through an auction-based intervention on the money market. Subsidies to industrial operators will be granted to those who can justify direct procurement from collection points at the floor price. As for the export of groundnut seeds, the suspension of the CFAF 40/kg tax is conditional upon exporters justifying exclusive sourcing from approved collection points.
The Prime Minister also requested that the installation and effective operation of approved collection points be ensured and that all available means be mobilized to put an end to the supply of OPS through parallel circuits. He advocated a revision of the sector’s policy, for which a committee will be set up to formulate proposals for a new groundnut policy for Senegal.
Finally, regarding the situation of rice produced in the northern part of the country, the Prime Minister instructed the Minister in charge of Trade to submit an operational and structured action plan for destocking and marketing.
Government orientations for regulation between industry and trade
The Prime Minister noted that the industrial sector faces challenges such as low productivity, infrastructure deficits, weak innovation, and inadequate taxation to curb unfair competition. The import situation, marked by a massive influx of more competitive finished products directly competing with local production, results in fiscal and customs asymmetries.
He therefore instructed the Minister, Secretary-General of the Government, in coordination with the relevant sectoral ministries, to ensure compliance with the orientations defined in this regard, particularly the development of specific regulations to create outlets for locally manufactured products, the adoption of necessary corrective measures (suspension or removal of taxes, rate reviews, etc.), and the application of the appropriate taxable base and fiscal regime at the customs border.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATIONS OF MINISTERS
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The Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation presented a communication on the internal efficiency of bachelor’s and master’s cycles within public universities.
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The Minister of Youth and Sports presented a communication on the Athlete Education Programme and the Anti-Doping Strategy for the Youth Olympic Games.
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The Minister of Industry and Trade presented a communication on the market situation and the marketing of agricultural and food products.
UNDER LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY TEXTS
The Council examined and adopted the draft law establishing and defining the rules of organization and operation of the National Media Regulation Council (CNRM).
UNDER INDIVIDUAL MEASURES
The President of the Republic took the following decisions:
Under the Presidency of the Republic
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Mr. Moustapha DJITTE, Magistrate, payroll number 602 388/E, is appointed Director General of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP).
Under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Mr. Mababa DIAGNE, Full Professor, payroll number 106 014/D, is appointed Rector of Amadou Mahtar MBOW University, replacing Professor Ibrahima CISSE, who has retired;
Mr. Papa DIOP, Professor of Computer Science, payroll number 720 793/D, is appointed Director of the Networks and Information Systems Center at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, replacing Mr. Seydina Moussa NDIAYE;
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Mr. Chérif Saloum DIATTA, Lecturer-Researcher, payroll number 107 451/H, is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Authority for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, replacing Mr. Amadou SADIO;
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Mr. Mouhamadou Moustapha SARR, Lecturer-Researcher, payroll number 108 837/C, is appointed Director of the Higher Institute of Vocational Education of Diamniadio, replacing Ms. Mbossé NDIAYE GUEYE.
Marie Rose Khady Fatou FAYE
Secretary of State to the Prime Minister,
in charge of Relations with Institutions,
Government Spokesperson