The Head of State, His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE, chaired the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the Palace of the Republic.
At the outset of his address, the Head of State expressed his sorrow following the passing of Maître Cheikh Koureyssi BA. Senegal has lost a talented lawyer, a distinctive voice at the bar, and a principled man deeply committed to justice and freedoms. The President of the Republic also marked the anniversary of his ascension to the supreme magistracy following Senegal’s third democratic alternation.
Indeed, on March 24, 2024, the sovereign Senegalese people elected him President of the Republic in the first round with 54.28% of the votes cast. This trust was reaffirmed with the absolute parliamentary majority of 130 deputies granted to the PASTEF list, led by Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO, during the legislative elections of November 17, 2024.
The Head of State once again expressed his deep gratitude to the valiant Senegalese people for their trust and ongoing mobilization alongside the Government to establish, in peace, national harmony, and a sense of responsibility, a sovereign, just, and prosperous Senegal. He reiterated his commitment, and that of the Government, as he begins the second year of his mandate, to spare no effort in accelerating reforms, accountability, and the country’s recovery, while prioritizing the revival of economic and social activities in line with the National Transformation Agenda launched on October 14, 2024.
Turning to the preparations for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the blessed month of Ramadan, the President of the Republic instructed the Government—particularly the Ministers in charge of the Interior, Armed Forces, Land and Air Transport, Trade, and Maritime Transport—to take all necessary measures to ensure proper market supplies and the smooth conduct of Korité celebrations across the national territory.
Addressing the 2023-2024 annual report of the Ombudsman of the Republic, which he received on Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Head of State once again congratulated the independent authority for its remarkable work in protecting the rights of citizens and public service users, as well as improving the functioning and performance of administrations. He urged each Government member to act on the report’s recommendations, respond systematically to referrals, appoint Ombudsman representatives in each ministry, and ensure the framework for the Ombudsman’s delegates in regions and local authorities.
Drawing lessons from the 2023-2024 Ombudsman report, he emphasized to the Government the need to pay special attention to continuously improving detention conditions, ensuring the care of children with special needs, regularizing the administrative status of agents and retirees involved in cases already handled by the Ombudsman, and promptly addressing complaints related to enhancing the institutional, economic, and social environment for businesses.
The President of the Republic also tackled the issue of optimally managing the upcoming rainy season, which requires anticipation, meticulous preparation, and flawless organization. He directed the Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation to take all necessary steps to immediately launch pre-rainy season operations nationwide. He stressed the importance of timely preventive drainage operations under the supervision of ONAS, while strengthening a systemic approach to flood prevention and management.
Consequently, it is imperative to monitor the national hydrographic network in collaboration with basin organizations (OMVS and OMVG) to integrate flood risk forecasts into the national flood prevention and management strategy. The Head of State underscored the urgency of prioritizing the completion of works outlined in flood control projects and programs, particularly in vulnerable areas such as Keur Massar (Keur Massar South, Unit 3 Parcelles Assainies) and Mbacké (Touba).
Along the same lines, he instructed the Minister in charge of Infrastructure to intensify the implementation of the Maintenance and Rehabilitation Plan for crossing structures, especially in vulnerable zones and sites. He requested the Prime Minister to hold an interministerial council on flood prevention in April 2025 and to reactivate field operations of the National Flood Prevention Committee.
Senegal will celebrate the 65th anniversary of its accession to international sovereignty on April 4, 2025, an occasion for the President of the Republic to emphasize the need for consensus on naming infrastructure and public spaces. He reminded the Government that roads—avenues, boulevards, streets—as well as public squares and spaces in cities and municipalities, should symbolize Senegal’s and Africa’s history, perpetuating the collective memory of events and figures that have shaped the nation’s life, while embodying continental integration and unity.
In his address, the Prime Minister provided an update on the steering of Senegal’s Systemic National Transformation Agenda, stressing the need for perfect alignment between strategic projects and territorial dynamics. He welcomed the satisfactory outcomes of the thematic launch sessions for projects and programs, which ensure the success of the intersectoral coordination essential to the sector- and value-chain-based approach adopted for the Senegal 2050 Agenda. He emphasized the special attention to be given to catalytic projects and those requiring rapid implementation.
The Prime Minister then urged the Ministers to initiate the operational phase by finalizing the roadmaps for the portfolio of projects selected from these thematic launch sessions and, if necessary, adjusting their Sectoral Policy Letters (LPS) ahead of the first 2025 Amended Finance Law. In this context, he outlined budgetary adjustments to be submitted to the President of the Republic after consultations with the Ministers of Budget and Economy, given the current state of public finances. Addressing the second point of his address, the Prime Minister reflected on the simultaneous launch ceremony of the Support Program for Social and Solidarity Economy Actors (PROGRESS) and the 1,000 Solidarity Cooperatives Program (PCS), which he chaired.
In this regard, he highlighted the persistent challenge of poverty eradication in Senegal, a goal the National Transformation Agenda aims to achieve. Citing the harmonized ANSD survey on household living conditions between 2019 and 2022 published last year, the Prime Minister noted, beyond the increase in the number of people living in poverty, a very high poverty rate in rural areas and a strong correlation with factors such as advanced age, income levels, and access to basic services like healthcare, drinking water, education, and electricity.
Based on these findings, the Prime Minister instructed the Minister in charge of Planning to update these statistics to provide an up-to-date baseline for managing the country. He also stressed the need to synergize poverty alleviation mechanisms to create a more effective ecosystem in the fight against poverty. To this end, he decided to establish, under the Prime Minister’s Office coordination, a consultation framework involving relevant Ministers, particularly those responsible for solidarity, health, social action, the social and solidarity economy, agriculture, and livestock. Among the urgent issues to address, he highlighted managing the lean season in rural areas, including for livestock, requesting precise measures to be submitted to him as soon as possible. Finally, the Prime Minister reminded the Ministers to strictly adhere to the deadlines he set for submitting proposals to rationalize the State’s lifestyle, noting ongoing efforts at the Ministry of Finance to utilize the BCEAO’s instant payment platform under development for tax and customs payments.
UNDER THE MINISTERS’ COMMUNICATIONS:
- The Minister of Energy, Petroleum, and Mines delivered a presentation on:
- The implementation status of the Support and Equalization Fund for Local Authorities;
- The implementation status of the Rehabilitation Fund for Mining Sites and Quarries;
- The progress of establishing a declarative system for collecting mining royalties.
- The Minister of Industry and Trade provided an update on the supply of essential goods to the market;
- The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock presented a report on the peanut marketing campaign and the monitoring of the horticultural campaign.
UNDER INDIVIDUAL MEASURES,
The President of the Republic made the following decisions:
At the Presidency of the Republic
Mr. Aboubacar Djamil SANE, holder of a Master’s in Economics, is appointed President of the Supervisory Board of the General Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship of Women and Youth (DER/FJ), a vacant position;
At the Prime Minister’s Office
Mr. Mohamed Lat Sack DIOP, Doctor of Information and Communication Sciences, Full Professor at the School of Librarians, Archivists, and Documentalists (EBAD), is appointed Director of the Senegal Archives, a vacant position.
At the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs
Mr. Mame Birame Wathie, holder of an Advanced Diploma in Communication and Multimedia, journalist, is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Senegalese Press and Publication Company - Le Soleil (SSPP-Le Soleil), a vacant position;
Mr. Birame Khoudia LO, Teacher, is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Babacar TOURE Press House, replacing Mr. Alioune DRAME.
At the Ministry of Industry and Trade
Mr. Samba Camara, holder of a Master’s in Nutrition, Quality, and Food Hygiene, is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Food Technology Institute (ITA), replacing Mr. Ismaila Mbengue Fall;
Ms. Aïcha Selbé SAGNE, Specialist in Commercial Management and Marketing, is appointed President of the Supervisory Board of the Senegalese Export Promotion Agency (ASEPEX), replacing Ms. Mame Marième BABOU.
At the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MESRI)
Mr. Tafsir Babacar NDOYE, Biologist, Coordinator of the Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technical Research (FIRST), payroll number 615 391/O, is appointed Director of Research and Technological Development Funding, replacing Ms. Soukeyna Dia TINE, who is retiring;
Ms. Benoit TINE, Associate Professor of Sociology, is appointed Director of Private Higher Education, replacing Mr. Cheikh SÈNE;
Mr. Ansoumana SAMBOU, Professor of Life and Earth Sciences, payroll number 696 641/Z, is appointed Chairman of the Steering Committee of the National Biosafety Authority (ANB), replacing Mr. Yéro Deh.
At the Ministry of Social and Solidarity Economy
Ms. Ndela DIOUF, holder of a Master’s in Financial Engineering, Project Manager, is appointed Director of the Microfinance Promotion Fund, replacing Mr. Ndiamé NDIAYE.
At the Ministry of National Education
Mr. Baba THIAM, Elementary Education Inspector, payroll number 516192, previously Inspector of Education and Training in Mbour 1, is appointed Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of National Education, replacing Mr. Serigne Saïbou BADIANE, who is retiring.
At the Ministry of Urban Planning, Local Authorities, and Territorial Development
Mr. Ousmane KEBE, Secondary Education Teacher, is appointed President of the Supervisory Board of the Agency for the Construction of Public Buildings and Facilities, replacing Mr. Baba NDIAYE;
Mr. Baye Mayoro DIOP, Foreign Affairs Chancellor, holder of a Master’s in Conflict Management, is appointed Director of Decentralized Cooperation at the Ministry of Urban Planning, Local Authorities, and Territorial Development, replacing Mr. Pape Ngor THIAO, called to other duties;
Mr. Mouhamadou Lamine DIAGNE, holder of an MBA in Governance and International Relations, is appointed Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Social Housing Fund, replacing Ms. Anta Sarr DIACKO;
Ms. Khadija Mahécor DIOUF, holder of a Master’s in Monitoring and Evaluation, is appointed President of the Supervisory Board of the Local Development Agency (ADL), a vacant position.
At the Ministry of Interior and Public Security
Mr. Abou BA, Civil Administrator, payroll number 661 348/F, is appointed Director of Public Liberties and Legislation, a vacant position;
Mr. Ibrahima BALDE, Civil Administrator, payroll number 722 162/J, is appointed Director of Training and Communication at the General Directorate of Elections, a vacant position;
Ms. Khoudia LEYE, Civil Administrator, payroll number 744 884/, previously at the General Directorate of Territorial Administration, is appointed Deputy Governor of the Saint-Louis Region in charge of Development, a vacant position;
Mr. Christian Fernand Jonhson Tiburce DIATTA, Civil Administrator, payroll number 618 678/E, previously at the General Directorate of Territorial Administration, is appointed Prefect of the Bambey Department, Diourbel Region, a vacant position;
Mr. Amadou KA, Administrative Secretary, payroll number 661 447/F, previously Deputy Prefect of the Mbour Department, Thiès Region, is appointed Sub-Prefect of the Kataba 1 Arrondissement, Bignona Department, replacing Mr. Alassane ANNE, who is retiring;
Mr. Diadji GUEYE, Administrative Secretary, payroll number 661 425/F, previously Deputy Prefect of the Thiès Department, is appointed Sub-Prefect of the Koudiaba Ouoloff Arrondissement, Koumpentoum Department, a vacant position;
Mr. Mouhamadou Lamine DIOP, Administrative Secretary, payroll number 681 468/G, previously Deputy Prefect of the Ziguinchor Department, is appointed Sub-Prefect of the Ndande Arrondissement, Kébémer Department, replacing Mr. Mamadou BADIANE, who is retiring;
Mr. Mamadou Lamine NGOM, Administrative Secretary, payroll number 666 130/H, previously Deputy Prefect of the Dakar Department, is appointed Sub-Prefect of the Lambaye Arrondissement, Bambey Department, replacing Mr. Cheikh Anta DIENG, who is retiring;
Mr. Moustapha NIANG, Administrative Secretary, payroll number 681 469/H, previously Deputy Prefect of the Pikine Department, is appointed Sub-Prefect of the Djibanar Arrondissement, Goudomp Department, replacing Mr. Amadou GOUDIABY, who is retiring;
Mr. Issakha TANDIAN, Vocational Technical Education Teacher, payroll number 615 477/F, previously Deputy Prefect of the Salemata Department, is appointed Sub-Prefect of the Nguélou Arrondissement, Guinguinéo Department, replacing Mr. Mohamed Fadel SARR, who is retiring;
Mr. Moussa SAMB, Administrative Secretary, payroll number 681 463/B, previously Deputy Prefect of the Tambacounda Department, is appointed Sub-Prefect of the Boyaguel Bamba Arrondissement, Goudiry Department, replacing Mr. Babacar Ibra MAR, called to other duties.
Minister of Vocational and Technical Training, Government Spokesperson Amadou Moustapha Njekk SARRE