The Council of Ministers met on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, President of the Republic.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
At the outset, in the context of the Easter celebrations, the Head of State reiterated his message of congratulations and solidarity to the Christian community, before continuing his address focusing on the following points:
Celebration of the National Day
The President of the Republic recalled that Senegal celebrated, on April 4, 2026, in a spirit of unity and collective pride, the 66th anniversary of its accession to international sovereignty. He praised the resounding success of the celebrations across the national territory, marked by the relocation to Thiès of the official ceremony and the Grand National Parade under his chairmanship, in the presence of his counterpart from the Gabonese Republic, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, guest of honor of the event.
He thanked and congratulated the populations of the Thiès Region, the administrative authorities, as well as all mayors and local elected officials for their warm welcome and remarkable mobilization, which contributed to the success of this major event in the republican calendar.
The Head of State also congratulated the Minister of the Armed Forces, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the High Commander of the National Gendarmerie and Director of Military Justice, as well as all the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), for the quality of the organization, which reflects their recognized professionalism and exemplary conduct. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening territorial presence, equipment, modernization, and excellence of the FDS, in order to build a sovereign Senegal in a rapidly changing world.
Finally, he reminded the Government, within the framework of territorializing State action, of the need to continue implementing the policy of decentralizing celebration activities, alongside the controlled rollout of the Special Program for Infrastructure Development in host regions and designated capitals.
Operation and Regulation of Highways
The President of the Republic noted that the development and operation of highways contribute to opening up production areas, improving spatial planning, accelerating urbanization, and enhancing both urban and interurban mobility. In this regard, he welcomed the progress of the Mbour–Fatick–Kaolack highway project, now 92% complete.
He instructed the Minister of Infrastructure to take the necessary measures to commission completed sections of the new Mbour–Fatick–Kaolack highway, particularly the Mbour–Thiadiaye segment. He also called for the acceleration of works on the Thiadiaye–Kaolack section and those relating to the Dakar–Tivaouane–Saint-Louis highway, as well as improvements in traffic flow and road safety along the Dakar–Thiaroye–Rufisque–Toglou–Kirène–Malicounda–Mbour axis.
Finally, he instructed the Minister of Infrastructure to propose an integrated framework for the governance and regulation of operational highways in Senegal.
Governance of Land Transport
The President emphasized that road safety and the modernization of land transport management must remain Government priorities, in coordination with sector stakeholders. He noted the recurring cyclical strikes in road transport, which disrupt the movement of people and goods and hinder economic activity.
Recalling the importance of dialogue, listening, and responsibility within the framework of laws and regulations, he stressed the urgency of strengthening social dialogue between the State and road transport stakeholders, in order to establish a sustainable pact for the immediate return to normal operations.
Reaffirming his commitment to good governance in the sector, the Head of State instructed the Prime Minister to ensure, together with the Minister in charge of Land Transport, the effective and inclusive implementation of the recommendations of the General Assembly on Transport.
He emphasized the need to ensure optimal road control and strict compliance with the Highway Code and regulations governing public transport vehicles. In this regard, he stressed the urgency of accelerating vehicle renewal programs and improving the efficiency of the public transport system, including strengthening the fleets of Dakar Dem Dik and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), as well as those operated by accredited associations and private operators.
The President also called on the Government to ensure the efficient operation of the TER, the Senegal Railways (CFS), and the Grands Trains du Sénégal (GTS), with a view to optimizing multimodal urban and interurban transport.
Finally, he instructed the Minister of Land Transport to submit, before the end of April 2026, a comprehensive report on the constraints and prospects for the inclusive transformation of road transport in Senegal, including a detailed timeline.
Agenda of the President of the Republic, Integration, Cooperation and Partnerships
The Head of State informed the Council that he will preside over the solemn opening of the Bar on Thursday, April 9, 2026, before undertaking an economic tour in the Kolda Region from April 12 to 14, 2026.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATION OF THE PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister presented his communication on the following points:
Reform of the National School of Administration (ENA)
Addressing the role of human capital in Senegal’s transformation policy, the Prime Minister presented the reform project of the National School of Administration. This reform will contribute to training highly qualified human resources capable of effectively implementing public policies aligned with Vision 2050, while preserving the credibility of this institution as a vehicle for social mobility and national cohesion.
Given the limitations of Decree No. 2011-1704 of October 6, 2011, and the need for systemic transformation, the Prime Minister proposed a comprehensive, forward-looking, inclusive, and integrated reform approach. A steering committee will be established under the supervision of the Minister, Secretary-General of the Government.
He also outlined legal, institutional, pedagogical, and scientific reforms, including a new decree, modernization of management tools, increased and rationalized financial resources, updated curricula, digitalization of teaching, the creation of a Distance Learning Institute (IFD), alignment with the LMD system, and the introduction of a doctoral track.
New Doctrine for the Informal Sector
The Prime Minister recalled that the informal economy is a structural weakness of the development model. He stressed that its formalization is both a necessity and a challenge.
He ordered an independent evaluation of the current strategy, leading to a renewed approach based on strong incentives for formalization and stricter sanctions against organized fraud.
He identified four categories of informality: survival, transition, optimization, and illicit informality, and emphasized measures such as entrepreneurial status, mandatory registration, social protection, and strengthened anti-fraud mechanisms.
He requested a proposal within fifteen days for organizing an interministerial council dedicated to formalization.
Restructuring of the Dakar Public Transport Network (RTC)
The Prime Minister announced a major project (267 billion FCFA) to restructure Dakar’s public transport network, led by CETUD. The project aims to reorganize bus routes, improve connectivity, deploy low-emission buses, and modernize infrastructure.
He instructed the relevant ministers to remove obstacles and ensure the effective launch of the project.
He also requested an assessment of the feasibility of the Ouakam Stadium project on the former runway site.
UNDER THE COMMUNICATIONS OF MINISTERS
The Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines and the Minister of Finance and Budget presented a joint communication on the impact of the Middle East conflict on fuel supply and energy prices.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Public Service Reform presented communications on the draft Labour Code and the draft Social Security Code.
Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye
Minister of State to the Prime Minister,
In charge of Relations with Institutions,
Government Spokesperson