The President of the Republic proceeded this Tuesday, April 28, at the Presidential Palace, with the installation of the Strategic Council of the presidential initiative SunuChampions, in a sober and solemn working atmosphere. The ceremony was immediately followed by the first session of the Council, an advisory and steering body placed under the direct authority of the Head of State.
Established by Decree No. 000707 of January 7, 2026, the SunuChampions Initiative is rooted in a firm conviction: no sustainable economic sovereignty can be achieved without a strong network of national enterprises that are competitive at the national, regional, and international levels, capable of innovating and driving entire sectors of the economy. Fifteen high-potential companies will therefore be selected through a rigorous and transparent call for applications process, and supported in their growth trajectory to become true engines of national development, drivers of innovation, and creators of sustainable jobs.
The Strategic Council is tasked with advising the Head of State in steering this ambition. It brings together seven personalities from the private sector, public administration, and academia, recognized for their professional trajectories and sense of patriotic duty. Its members include Ms. Aminata NIANE, Ms. Thiaba Camara SY, Ms. Eveline TALL, Mr. Mouhamadou Makhtar CISSÉ, Professor Ahmadou Aly MBAYE, Mr. Youssef OMAIS, and Mr. Samba SENE.
During the first session, held in the presence of the Head of State, the Council made recommendations on the application process, selection criteria, support mechanisms, and the roadmap of the Initiative. It welcomed an approach that profoundly redefines the relationship between the State and the private sector, clarifying the roles of each and unleashing energies in favor of a genuine development partnership.
Through SunuChampions, the Head of State affirms a clear political direction: to make the national private sector the driving force of Senegal’s economic transformation, and the State a demanding and loyal strategic partner. It is within this dialogue that the champions of tomorrow will be forged.
