PRESS RELEASE OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026

The Council of Ministers met on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, President of the Republic.

The Head of State delivered a communication on the following points:

The President of the Republic considers the promotion and consolidation of social stability as a priority of government action. He commended the Government’s efforts to fulfill State commitments, notably the exceptional regularization of administrative and statutory situations in the education and health sectors, and the signing of the Social Stability Pact for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth with employers’ organizations and trade union centers.

The Head of State emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring of the national social barometer relating to social conflicts and strike notices. He instructed the Government to take appropriate measures to publish, before April 30, 2026, a White Paper on the status of responses to trade union demands and the evaluation of the first year of implementation of the said Pact.

Furthermore, the President urged each minister to review sectoral social demands in order to focus efforts on the proper functioning and quality of public services, user satisfaction, and improved efficiency and productivity at work.

Finally, the Head of State requested the Prime Minister and the Minister in charge of Labour to prepare the organization of the 5th Social Conference on the theme of “Workplace Productivity,” and to ensure the proper organization, on May 1, 2026, at the Presidential Palace, of the ceremony for the submission of trade unions’ lists of demands.

The President noted that access to quality healthcare remains a major concern for the population. He therefore called for a social review to ensure effective management of health personnel and the quality functioning of health facilities.

He stressed the urgency of accelerating the adoption of a new health map to ensure optimal national coverage in healthcare infrastructure, including personnel, services, and technical platforms, and to give particular attention to the completion, launch, and commissioning of new health facilities.

He also instructed the Government to prepare the consensual deployment, under the supervision of the Prime Minister, of a Special Plan for training and capacity-building of all health personnel. This interministerial tool should include the modernization of faculties, institutes, and training schools for medical and technical staff, taking into account the LMD system.

Moreover, after highlighting the urgency of finalizing and implementing the reform of public health establishments to ensure exemplary governance, the Head of State requested the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene to:

take the necessary steps for the imminent adoption of the Health Code;

initiate the strategic reorientation of the health system towards prevention and public hygiene;

strengthen human resources and operational means of the National Hygiene Service;

prepare the inclusive organization of National Consultations on medical prevention and public hygiene before the end of September 2026.

Finally, the President instructed the Prime Minister to initiate a strategic reflection on the governance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and sustainable financing mechanisms, and to ensure proper monitoring of the pharmaceutical sector and initiatives aimed at strengthening Senegal’s pharmaceutical sovereignty.

Preparation of the 2026 Agricultural Campaign and Modernization of Agriculture and Livestock

Referring to his visit to the 26th edition of the International Fair for Agriculture and Animal Resources (FIARA 2026), the President reiterated the importance he attaches to the agriculture and livestock sectors. He congratulated the organizers and urged the Government to strengthen support for this major subregional and continental event, recalling that agricultural modernization is essential for food sovereignty and public well-being.

With the onset of the rainy season, the Head of State instructed the relevant ministers to take all necessary measures, under the supervision of the Prime Minister, to ensure proper preparation of the 2026 agricultural campaign, including timely provision of seeds, inputs, equipment, and financing.

He also requested:

the adoption, before the end of May 2026, of the agrosylvopastoral and fisheries framework law and the implementing decree of the Pastoral Code;

adequate supply of the national market with sheep in preparation for Tabaski.

Highlighting Senegal’s victory at the African U15 School Football Championship in Zimbabwe, the President congratulated the players and staff for this outstanding performance.

He instructed the Prime Minister to implement, with relevant stakeholders, an inclusive program for the development of sports in schools and universities to promote all disciplines at grassroots level.

Presidential Agenda, Integration, Cooperation and Partnerships

The Head of State informed the Council that he will chair, on April 18, 2026, the Conference of Senegalese Ambassadors and Consuls General, and will also preside over the opening ceremony of the 10th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa on April 20, 2026.

The Prime Minister addressed the following points:

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to establish a modern and efficient National Printing Office as part of reforms aimed at strengthening sovereignty, rationalizing public spending, modernizing the State, and securing official documents.

He noted that despite qualified human resources and existing equipment, performance remains below potential due to structural and legal constraints. He proposed reforms including:

a new governance framework;

an innovative economic model;

strategic partnerships;

reduced outsourcing costs;

a robust digitalization plan.

The Prime Minister highlighted worsening geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly around Iran, and their impact on energy prices, supply chains, and financial stability.

He called for anticipation and strict budgetary discipline, requesting each minister to submit within fifteen days concrete measures for savings and resource reallocation.

The Prime Minister announced an interministerial council on infrastructure to be held between late April and mid-May 2026.

He stressed the need to operationalize completed but unused infrastructure projects, describing them as both a financial waste and an opportunity for value creation through mechanisms such as concessions, leasing, or public-private partnerships.

Ministers were instructed to submit a certified inventory of such infrastructure within fifteen days.

The Minister of Family and Social Affairs presented the national strategy for systematic enrollment in Universal Health Insurance.

The Minister of Employment presented the National Employment Policy (2026–2034).

The Minister of Culture presented the general review of culture, crafts, and tourism.

The Council examined and adopted:

the draft Labour Code;

the draft Social Security Code;

the draft decree establishing the Presidential Investment Council.

The President of the Republic made several appointments within various ministries, including Interior, Higher Education, Health, Employment, Urban Planning, Industry, Infrastructure, and Culture.

Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye

Minister of State to the Prime Minister,

Spokesperson of the Government