The Head of State, His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE, presided over the weekly Council of Ministers meeting at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
At the beginning of his address, the President of the Republic congratulated the Senegalese people for their mobilization and democratic maturity during the election of the deputies of the fifteenth legislature, held in calm and serenity. He commended the Government, particularly the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, the Minister of Finance and Budget, the decentralized administrative authorities (Governors, Prefects, and Sub-Prefects), the General Directorate of Elections, Senegal's diplomatic and consular missions, the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), the National Audiovisual Regulatory Council (CNRA), and all the Defense and Security Forces for the professional and transparent organization of the snap legislative elections both nationally and abroad.
The Head of State extended his warm congratulations to Mr. Ousmane SONKO, Prime Minister and President of PASTEF, for his personal commitment and leadership, which enabled his party to achieve an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
The President of the Republic reminded the Government of his particular attachment to the optimal implementation, according to the defined timelines and sectoral priorities, of the vision of a sovereign, just, and prosperous Senegal by 2050. He emphasized the need for a coherent and pragmatic systemic transformation of Senegal.
This collective challenge involves addressing significant economic and social emergencies, combating the high cost of living, increasing household purchasing power, ensuring access to basic social services, developing youth employability and employment, initiating the "new technological deal," and promoting territories to become hubs of innovation, recovery, and revitalization of the national economy, particularly in key sectors such as agriculture, livestock, tourism, mining, and hydrocarbons.
The President of the Republic reiterated the role of the National Assembly and its prerogatives, which include passing laws, overseeing government actions, and evaluating public policies conducted and coordinated by the Government. He therefore requested the Government, particularly the Prime Minister, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, and the Minister of Finance and Budget, to finalize the presentation of the 2025 finance bill to the Council of Ministers, which will be reviewed under exceptional timelines.
In the same vein, the Head of State praised the quality of governmental work over the past eight months of this exceptional year, during which Senegal organized two major national elections. He duly acknowledged the exemplary mobilization of each member of the Government during this phase of rectification, adjustment, and accountability.
Addressing the agricultural production marketing campaign, the President of the Republic asked the Government to ensure the protection of producers' interests, fair remuneration for their productions, and the development of the national industry with a view to consolidating economic sovereignty. He requested the Government to take all appropriate measures to adequately set the price per kilogram of peanuts for producers.
Furthermore, the Head of State invited the Prime Minister and the Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Industry to define, in consensus with operators and industrialists in the sector, a method of intervention in the peanut markets. This will ensure the security of producers' incomes and the modernization of the local industrial processing of national peanut production. To conclude this chapter, he asked the Prime Minister to hold an interministerial council on the agricultural marketing campaign as soon as possible.
Discussing the Biennale of Contemporary African Art, the President of the Republic congratulated the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, the Secretary of State for Culture, Creative Industries and Historical Heritage, the Chairman of the Biennale Orientation Committee, and the entire cultural community that mobilized to ensure the success of this major event for Senegal and Africa. He also invited the Government to further support the organization of the Biennale, the next edition of which, in 2026, will coincide with the Youth Olympic Games.
The President also highlighted to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance and Budget the importance of promoting the acquisition of artworks by the State and decorating public buildings with paintings, tapestries, and other products by our artists. To this end, he requested the Minister of Culture to intensify the modernization and production of the Decorative Arts Manufactures located in Thiès, and to engage in reflection on patronage to further promote Senegalese Art.
He emphasized the need to develop a dynamic economy around Arts and Culture and to revitalize artistic creation through the execution of a concerted plan for the transformation of the National School of Arts and Culture.
Senegal will commemorate on December 1, 2024, the 80th anniversary of the events related to the "Thiaroye Massacre". In this regard, the Head of State has asked the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Armed Forces to finalize the preparatory activities for this major international event, in memory of the Senegalese Tirailleurs and our former Combatants. Their heroic journeys, which must be taught to the younger generations, have greatly contributed to the defense of freedom, dignity, and independence of African countries.
Finally, the President of the Republic warmly congratulated the MMA World Champion of the "ONE Championship," our compatriot Oumar KANE, also known as REUG-REUG, whose historic victory honors Africa.
At the beginning of his speech, the Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with the renewed support of the Senegalese people for the systemic transformation project of the country led by the President of the Republic during the early legislative elections.
This reflects the positive appreciation of the achievements recorded during these first seven months in power, a guarantee of the promised changes. He emphasized the obligation to work tirelessly to ensure the fulfillment of the people's high expectations in all areas.
In this context, the Prime Minister highlighted the need to finalize, within the next two weeks, the files related to the 2025 roadmap for the programs and projects of the Senegal 2050 Reference Framework and the 2025 budget project to be presented to the National Assembly. Furthermore, he welcomed the proper handling of the preparatory work for the commemoration on December 1, 2024, of the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye Massacre.
Finally, the Prime Minister emphasized the satisfactory completion rate of the government's priority action plan for the period from April to September 2024, urging the Ministers to ensure the finalization of the remaining actions before the end of 2024, within the limits of budgetary capacities.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MINISTERS:
The Secretary-General of the Government made a communication to the Council on the evaluation of the Priority Action Plan of the ministerial departments for the period April to September 2024;
The Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation made a communication on the New Senegal 2050 Reference Framework and the 2025-2029 Five-Year Action Plan;
The Minister of Water and Sanitation provided an update on the weekly situation of flood management.
UNDER LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY TEXTS:
The Council of Ministers examined and adopted:
The draft decree establishing and setting the rules of organization and operation of the Senegalese Agency for Rural Electrification (ASER).
UNDER INDIVIDUAL MEASURES:
The President of the Republic made the following decision: Under the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Christian Alain Joseph ASSOGBA, Foreign Affairs Advisor, payroll number 611.446/Z, is appointed Ambassador, Director of Protocol, International Conferences, and Translation, replacing Mr. Magaye GUEYE, who has been assigned to other duties.
The Minister of Vocational Training, Government Spokesperson Amadou Moustapha Njekk SARRE