The Council of Ministers met exceptionally on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Palais de la République, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE, President of the Republic.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
The Head of State delivered a communication focused on the following points:
Permanent Strengthening of Social Dialogue
The President of the Republic considers that the proliferation of social unrest and demands in the public sector requires preventive and sustainable solutions to ease the social climate. To this end, he instructed the Government and the leaders of trade union confederations to work towards establishing social stability, which is essential for the optimal implementation of public policies. He asked the Prime Minister to take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuity of public services and to hold, as soon as possible, a meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the National Pact for Social Stability for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, with social partners, employers, and leaders of trade union confederations.
Strategic Management of the Marketing of Agricultural Products and Market Regulation
According to the Head of State, the optimal marketing of agricultural products constitutes a major challenge for our food sovereignty policy. He highlighted the urgency for the State to take concerted and effective measures, in collaboration with sector stakeholders, to address the recurring crises in the marketing of agricultural products. In this regard, he asked the Prime Minister to propose a strategy to support the marketing of agricultural and horticultural products.
The President of the Republic recalled the particular attention he pays to the situation of producers in the Niayes and the Senegal River Valley, as well as to the preventive monitoring of the groundnut sector. To this effect, he called for the acceleration of the implementation of the program for the construction of storage and conservation equipment, along with the redefinition of the operational missions of the Market Regulation Agency (ARM).
Consolidation of Decentralization within the Framework of the Senegal 2050 Vision
The Head of State announced that he chaired a meeting on July 2, 2026, with the territorial executives of Senegal. He congratulated the Minister of Urban Planning, Territorial Collectivities and Territorial Development, the presidents of departmental councils, mayors, umbrella organizations, and all decentralization stakeholders for their mobilization, commitment, and support in implementing the reforms concerning Territorial Poles and Act IV of Decentralization. The President of the Republic reiterated his commitment to accelerate the territorialization of public policies and to ensure adequate financing for local authorities. He emphasized the imperative of ensuring the timely transfer of endowment funds and matching funds, and of carrying out an inclusive reform of local taxation. Furthermore, he asked the Minister in charge of Territorial Collectivities to propose a reference framework on the status of local elected officials and the strengthening of solidarity between the State and local authorities, as well as among local authorities themselves. Finally, the President of the Republic instructed the Prime Minister to organize consultations with all decentralization stakeholders with a view to reviewing and validating, before the end of August 2026, the draft reforms on Territorial Poles and Act IV of Decentralization.
Revival of Housing Programs and Public Infrastructure Development
The Head of State observed that the development of the building and public works sector is a government priority in the dynamic of reviving the national economy and creating jobs. Accordingly, he called for the acceleration of the implementation of housing promotion projects and the revival of programs for the construction of priority sectoral public infrastructure.
In addition, he stressed the imperative:
- to support the deployment of urban planning and restructuring programs through the strengthening of the operational instruments of the Land Development and Urban Restructuring Company (SAFRU);
- to accelerate the revival of real estate programs and the activities of SICAP SA and SN HLM;
- to ensure the special allocation of additional resources to PUMA in order to intensify the realization of basic social infrastructure in regions and border areas;
- to initiate a national emergency program for the construction and rehabilitation of crossing structures, particularly bridges.
Finally, the President of the Republic asked the Prime Minister to ensure, with the ministers involved, close and systematic monitoring of housing programs and public infrastructure projects.
Sustainable Development of the Maritime Economy
The Head of State informed the Council that he chaired, on July 13, 2026, the opening ceremony of the National Forum on the Sustainable Development of Maritime Transport and Logistics in the Blue Economy. He emphasized the comparative and competitive advantages of our country, given its strategic geographical position and exceptional maritime potential.
He indicated to the Government the importance and urgency of proposing, before the end of the year, a coherent and integrated national maritime policy, and of launching a strategic reflection on the development of a national shipbuilding industry that meets the best international standards.
Underlining the imperative of ensuring the implementation of recommendations for improving the coordination and effectiveness of State action at sea, the Head of State asked the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Armed Forces, and the Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning to continue efforts to equip and modernize the National Navy and HASSMAR.
Strengthening Monitoring and Control of the Governance of Independent Administrative Authorities and Parapublic Sector Entities
The President of the Republic deplored certain shortcomings observed in the governance of independent administrative authorities and parapublic sector entities, notably insufficient mastery by executive bodies of applicable administrative, financial, and accounting procedures, the lack of human capital supervision, the acquisition and use of administrative vehicles, and the conclusion, in transition situations, of contracts and/or agreements that heavily and durably commit the structures. He therefore asked the Prime Minister and the ministers to take all urgent and appropriate measures to correct the reported deficiencies, paying particular attention to the scrupulous respect by directors general, directors, and other executive bodies of administrative, financial, accounting, and social orthodoxy, which is fundamental to establishing effective governance of the parapublic sector and independent administrative authorities. The Head of State also indicated that oversight bodies and agencies have been mobilized for this purpose.
President of the Republic’s Agenda, Follow-up on Integration, Cooperation and Partnerships
The Head of State informed the Council that he chaired, on July 10, 2026, the restitution session of the work of the High-Level Committee of the Peace and Security Project of UEMOA. He congratulated the Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, as well as the President of the UEMOA Commission, for the excellent preparation and successful conduct of the meeting.
He also recalled that he traveled to Doha on July 14 and 15, 2026, to present Senegal’s condolences to the Emir of Qatar following the passing of the former Emir Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani.
Finally, he announced that he will participate in the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown on July 18 and 19, 2026, and will preside over the solemn reopening of the National Academy of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal (ANSTS) on July 21, 2026.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATION OF THE PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister presented his communication on the following points: the acceleration of the program to upgrade the medical technical platform of health facilities and the launch of a national citizen engagement program.
Regarding the upgrading of the medical technical platform, the Prime Minister recalled that it is among the priorities of the Senegal 2050 National Transformation Agenda, aimed at establishing a high-performing, accessible, and equitable health system. He highlighted steering indicators showing challenges related to accessibility and quality of care, particularly the low level of the technical platform and medical evacuations between national facilities and abroad.
The Prime Minister noted the heavy concentration of infrastructure and specialized equipment along the Dakar-Thiès-Diourbel axis, the scale of needs for rehabilitating health facilities, and the continuous degradation of technical platforms due to insufficient maintenance. This results in the saturation of referral facilities, delays in care, and increased health expenditures. He asked the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene to submit, no later than the end of July 2026, a comprehensive report on the rehabilitation and upgrading plan for public health facilities and basic health structures. He also provided an update on measures taken to continue the construction of new hospitals or projects underway and the upcoming opening of the El Hadji Malick SY Hospital in Tivaouane.
Concerning the National Citizen Engagement Program, the Prime Minister emphasized that it constitutes the unifying framework for mobilizing youth in the service of the Senegal 2050 National Transformation Agenda. Designed to create a continuum between school, active citizenship, and the socio-professional world, this program aims to make every project in the 2025-2034 Masterplan a school of citizenship, skills, and responsibility, by offering young people concrete opportunities for training, professional experience, and contribution to major national transformation missions.
He noted that the program is based on three complementary components: the Citizen Engagement Season, the Professionalizing Citizen Internship, and the Professionalizing Civic Service, in order to enhance youth employability, develop their spirit of initiative, and better meet the needs of the national economy.
The Prime Minister announced that, under the coordination of the Prime Minister’s Office, an interministerial working group will be established before the end of July 2026 to finalize the architecture of the mechanism, define the deployment modalities of the platform, the mechanisms for certifying acquired skills, its financing model, and the results- and impact-based monitoring and evaluation system. The objective is to create the conditions for young people to benefit from the employment potential of the National Transformation Agenda, estimated at more than one million jobs by 2029.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MINISTERS
The Minister of Communication and Relations with Institutions, Government Spokesperson, and the Minister to the President of the Republic, in charge of Monitoring, Steering and Evaluation of the National Transformation Agenda, presented a joint communication on the establishment of an integrated government communication mechanism and on the development of a National Communication Strategy for Development and Social and Behavioral Change in support of the Senegal 2050 National Transformation Agenda (ANT 2050).
UNDER LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY TEXTS
The Council examined and adopted:
the draft orientation law on social protection;
the draft decree amending Decree No. 2023-847 of April 7, 2023, on the creation and rules of organization and operation of the National Program of Family Security Scholarships (PNBSF);
the draft decree amending Decree No. 2021-1052 of August 2, 2021, on the National Unique Register (RNU).
UNDER INDIVIDUAL MEASURES
The President of the Republic made the following decisions:
At the Presidency of the Republic
Mrs. Couro KANE, Jurist, holder of a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Regulation, is appointed Secretary General of the Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP), replacing Mr. Yellamine GOUMBALA.
At the Prime Minister’s Office
Mr. El Hadji Allé Birima FALL, Magistrate, is appointed Director of Normative Activity, replacing Mrs. Ndèye Khansou CAMARA.
At the Ministry of Urban Planning, Territorial Collectivities and Territorial Development
Mrs. Sokhna NDIAYE, Strategy and Organization Consultant, is appointed Director of Decentralized Cooperation at the Ministry of Urban Planning, Territorial Collectivities and Territorial Development (vacant position);
Mr. Bouna SECK, Civil and Hydraulic Engineer, is appointed Director General of Living Environment and Public Hygiene, replacing Mr. Serigne Kosso SENE;
Mrs. Fatou SENE, holder of a Master’s degree in Territorial Development, Decentralization and Local Development, is appointed Director of the National Center for Local Public Service and Training, replacing Mr. Alioune KEBE.
At the Ministry of Infrastructure
Mr. Cheikh DIENG, Expert in Public Governance, is appointed Director General of the Autonomous Road Maintenance Fund (FERA), replacing Mrs. Soukèye DIOP;
Mr. Guéladio Abdoul SOW, Secondary School Teacher, holder of a DESS in Business Administration and Management, payroll number 607 551/L, is appointed Inspector of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Infrastructure.
At the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy
Mr. Doune Pathé MBENGUE, Civil Administrator, is appointed Director General of the Dakar Autonomous Port National Company, replacing Mr. Waly Diouf BODIANG;
Mr. Mamadou THIAW, Expert in Management Sciences and Strategic Management, is appointed Director General of the National Maritime Affairs Agency (ANAM), replacing Mr. Bécaye Diop.
At the Ministry of Employment, Vocational and Technical Training
Mr. Soulèye KANE, Principal Inspector of Vocational and Technical Training, payroll number 607 909/E, is appointed Director General of the Vocational and Technical Training Financing Fund (3FPT), replacing Mr. Babo Amadou BA;
Mrs. Mame Awa NDOYE, holder of a Doctorate in Medicine, is appointed Director General of the National Vocational Training Office (ONFP), replacing Mr. Lamine Barra LO.
At the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Mr. Cheikh Tidiane GAYE, holder of a Master’s degree in Macroeconomic and Administrative Management, is appointed Director of the Thiès Regional Center for University Social Works, replacing Mr. Serigne Mbacké LO;
Mr. Mamadou SIDIBE, Full Professor of Exceptional Class at the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Cheikh Anta Diop University, payroll number 104 282/I, previously Coordinator in charge of the Management of the Souleymane Niang University of Matam Project, is appointed Director General of Higher Education at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, replacing Mr. Abdoul Aziz DIOUF.
At the Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad
Mrs. Fatou Gaye NGOM, Exceptional Class Foreign Affairs Counselor, payroll number 606 902/A, is appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to His Excellency Mr. Lee Jae MYUNG, President of the Republic of Korea, replacing Mr. Abdou Salam DIALLO, who has retired;
Mr. Mamadou NDIAYE, Foreign Affairs Counselor, payroll number 616 310/I, is appointed Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Senegal to the United Nations in New York (vacant position);
Mr. Mamadou BA, Foreign Affairs Chancellor, payroll number 620 658/E, is appointed Consul General of the Republic of Senegal in Bordeaux, replacing Mr. Abdoulaye DIALLO, who has retired.
At the Ministry of Family, Social Action and Solidarity
Mr. Adama Baye Racine NDIAYE, Principal Civil Administrator, payroll number 604 467/E, is appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Family, Social Action and Solidarity, replacing Mr. Mountaga BA.
At the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene
Mr. Karamba DIALLO, holder of a Doctorate in Pharmacy, is appointed Director General of the SEN-National Pharmacy of Supply (SEN-PNA), replacing Mr. Seydou DIALLO;
Dr. Balla Mbacké MBOUP, Public Health Physician of Exceptional Class, is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Matlaboul FAWZAYNI National Hospital Center in Touba, replacing Dr. Cheikh Tacko DIOP, who has been assigned to other duties;
Professor Bay Karim DIALLO, Full Professor of Exceptional Class, ENT and cervico-facial surgery specialist, is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Diamniadio National Oncology Center (CNOD) (vacant position);
Mr. Abdoulaye Mamadou MBOW, holder of a Master’s degree in Specialized Social Work, previously Director of Studies at the National School of Specialized Social Workers (ENTSS), is appointed Director of the National School of Specialized Social Workers (ENTSS), replacing Mr. Cheikh Talibouya NDIAYE, who has retired;
Dr. Mama Moussa DIAW, Public Health Specialist Physician, payroll number 613 775/C, previously Regional Director of Health for the Thiès Region, is appointed Regional Director of Health for the Dakar Region, replacing Dr. Ndèye Magatte NDIAYE, who has been assigned to other duties;
Dr. Cheikh Sadibou SENGHOR, Doctor of Medicine, Public Health Specialist, payroll number 620 515/E, previously Regional Director of Health for the Louga Region, is appointed Regional Director of Health for the Thiès Region, replacing Dr. Mama Moussa DIAW, who has been assigned to other duties;
Dr. Moustapha FAYE, Doctor of Health, Public Health Specialist, payroll number 613 807/G, previously Regional Director of Health for the Matam Region, is appointed Regional Director of Health for the Louga Region, replacing Dr. Cheikh Sadibou SENGHOR, who has been assigned to other duties;
Dr. Bayal CISSÉ, General Practitioner, Public Health Specialist, payroll number 605 136/G, previously Regional Director of Health for the Tambacounda Region, is appointed Regional Director of Health for the Matam Region, replacing Dr. Moustapha FAYE, who has been assigned to other duties;
Dr. Ababacar MBAYE, Public Health Specialist, payroll number 607 708/B, previously Regional Director of Health for the Kédougou Region, is appointed Regional Director of Health for the Tambacounda Region, replacing Dr. Bayal CISSÉ, who has been assigned to other duties;
Dr. Niène SECK, Public Health Specialist, payroll number 622 561/F, previously Chief Physician of the Kaolack District, is appointed Regional Director of Health for the Kédougou Region, replacing Dr. Ababacar MBAYE, who has been assigned to other duties;
Dr. Mouhamadou SOW, Dental Surgeon, Hospital Structures Manager, previously Head of the Dental Unit of the Diofior District, is appointed Director of the Amadou Tidiane BA Regional Hospital Center in Sédhiou (vacant position).
At the Ministry of Mines and Geology:
Mr. Cheikh Sadibou DIOP, Civil Administrator, payroll number 600 800/B, is appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Mines and Geology;
Mr. Mamané DJITTÉ, Magistrate, payroll number 636 288/G, is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Senegal Mines Company (SOMISEN), replacing Mr. Mbaye SENE, who has been assigned to other duties;
Mr. Lamine DIOUF, Geological Engineer, payroll number 674 982/Z, previously Director of Control and Monitoring of Mining Operations, is appointed Director General of Mines and Geology at the Ministry of Mines and Geology, replacing Mr. Ibrahima GASSAMA, who has been assigned to other duties;
Mr. Abdoulaye DIOP, Geological Engineer, payroll number 670 661/B, previously Regional Director of Energy and Mines for the Thiès Region, is appointed Director General of Control and Monitoring of Operations at the Ministry of Mines and Geology.
Bacary SARR
Minister of Communication and Relations with Institutions
Government Spokesperson