The Council of Ministers met on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE, President of the Republic.
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC’S STATEMENT
The Head of State delivered a statement covering the following points:
Consensual Modernization of University Governance
The President of the Republic began his address by focusing on the modernization and stability of the Higher Education, Research, and Innovation sector, which are key drivers of academic excellence and the successful implementation of the “Senegal 2050” Vision. Recalling the strategic importance of the higher education sector, he emphasized the recurrence of systemic crises as well as the complexity of the challenges and solutions involved. After paying tribute to the memory of Abdoulaye BA, the deceased student, he extended his condolences to the bereaved family, the academic community, and the entire Senegalese people.
The Head of State called for aligning the higher education and research system with the best international standards. He instructed the Government to establish permanent dialogue with all stakeholders within the academic community in order to respect academic calendars, comply with the LMD (Bachelor–Master–Doctorate) system requirements, and ensure sound administrative, budgetary, and financial governance of public universities and student welfare centers. Finally, he stressed the need to accelerate the consensual validation process of the recommendations arising from consultations on the National Agenda for the Transformation of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation.
Economic Tour of the Regions of Tambacounda and Kédougou
The Head of State informed the Council that he carried out an economic tour of the regions of Tambacounda and Kédougou from February 5 to 8, 2026. He expressed his gratitude to the populations, decentralized administrative authorities, elected officials, and local stakeholders for their warm welcome, strong mobilization, and the smooth conduct of visits to the scheduled localities and sites.
Highlighting the vast economic potential of Eastern Senegal, designated as a priority Development Pole under the National Transformation Agenda, the President of the Republic instructed the Government to accelerate the implementation of projects related to the construction of primary and secondary schools, the University of Eastern Senegal, Institutes of Higher Professional Education (ISEP), the Bakel hospital, administrative buildings, and other public infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of accelerating village electrification, improving access to safe drinking water, strengthening security coverage, and enhancing road, air, and digital connectivity in the eastern part of the country, particularly in the Kédougou region. To this end, he asked the Prime Minister to ensure the revival of railway transport along the Dakar–Kidira corridor and the functional development of the dry port in Tambacounda.
In the same vein, he stressed the need to regulate urban development, support the local private sector, ensure strategic control and systematic monitoring of mining activities, particularly gold mining and promote the Niokolo-Koba National Park as part of the revival of Senegal as a tourist destination. Finally, the President of the Republic instructed the Prime Minister to work with all stakeholders on the design and implementation of a special investment program entitled the “Diomaye Plan for Eastern Senegal,” aimed at reducing infrastructure deficits and ensuring a stronger presence of the State in the eastern zone of the country.
Preparations for the Month of Ramadan and Lent
The President of the Republic noted that the months of Ramadan and Lent are periods of strong religious devotion, communion, and solidarity. Accordingly, he instructed the Government to take appropriate measures to ensure adequate market supply and price stability for basic foodstuffs and essential goods, and to deploy public support mechanisms for households and the most vulnerable groups.
He concluded by asking the Prime Minister and the Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs to ensure that all necessary steps are taken by public authorities and private operators to guarantee the organization, under the best possible conditions, of the 2026 edition of the Pilgrimage to the Holy Sites.
Strengthening Prevention and the Fight Against Coastal Erosion
In light of the threat posed by coastal erosion to coastal localities, particularly islands, the Head of State called for the completion of mapping of affected or threatened areas and for an assessment of the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the various adaptation and resilience projects.
He emphasized the urgency of a concerted update of strategies, plans, projects, and actions aimed at preventing and combating coastal erosion, and instructed the Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition to propose a new policy in this area, supported by innovative, structured, appropriate, and sustainable projects.
Agenda of the President of the Republic
The Head of State informed the Council that on February 12, 2026, he will hold a meeting with regional governors in the form of an evaluation seminar to review security, economic, social, and environmental projects and priorities for each region, in the presence of the Prime Minister and several members of the Government.
UNDER THE PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT
The Prime Minister focused his statement on the following points:
Salt Industry
The Prime Minister first highlighted the strategic potential of the salt industry. He recalled Senegal’s position as one of Africa’s leading salt producers and the leading significant producer and exporter in West Africa, with annual production estimated at over 500,000 tons. However, he noted that the sector’s economic contribution remains limited, with the value of salt production accounting for approximately 0.3% of national GDP, while a large share of production is still exported in raw or minimally processed form.
According to the Prime Minister, this situation limits the value captured by the national economy and maintains dependence on imports for certain refined products and chemical derivatives. The strategic development of this sector therefore represents a major opportunity to strengthen the national industrial base, improve the trade balance, stimulate local economies, and foster the emergence of high value-added industries. By 2034, the salt industry is expected to generate over 30,000 formal jobs and revenue of CFA francs 350 billion.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister emphasized that prioritizing the salt sector would position the Central Territory Development Pole as the industrial heart of Senegalese salt production. By 2050, this would enable the development of an integrated territorial ecosystem around salt, covering the entire value chain from modernized production and packaging to industrial processing, transport logistics, and storage.
Finally, the Prime Minister reiterated the State’s ambition to make “Senegal Salt” a quality label, a regional market leader, and competitive on international markets.
Situation of Air Senegal
The Prime Minister presented the difficulties facing Air Senegal, noting that these challenges go beyond the balance sheet of an airline and affect Senegal’s image worldwide, its strategic connectivity, tourism and economic attractiveness, vital links with the diaspora, and the confidence of partners. Consequently, he granted a 30-day deadline to the Minister of Land and Air Transport to implement the key measures adopted by the Interministerial Council dedicated to the sector. These measures include finalizing and accelerating the implementation of a comprehensive operational recovery plan, launching the refinancing operation, submitting a detailed proposal for definitive recapitalization, and carrying out a rationalization audit followed by the adoption of a corrective action plan.
The Prime Minister also instructed the Minister of Finance to urgently mobilize the resources needed by Air Senegal to settle outstanding and unavoidable obligations to essential suppliers, through an exceptional and justified budgetary redeployment, in order to guarantee the continuity of public air transport services.
Situation of the Universities
Addressing the situation in universities, particularly in Dakar, the Prime Minister first expressed his deep sorrow following the tragic death of student Abdoulaye BA and extended his condolences to his family, the academic community, and the entire nation. He condemned the use of violence and called on the Minister of Justice to ensure appropriate judicial follow-up by establishing all responsibilities, particularly with regard to the circumstances of the student’s death.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to continue ongoing university reforms and encouraged the Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation in this regard. He also instructed the Minister of Interior and Public Security to continue ensuring the security and full pacification of university campuses.
The Prime Minister concluded his statement by announcing that he will travel to Addis Ababa on February 14 and 15, 2026, to represent the President of the Republic at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
UNDER MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS
The Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy delivered a statement on Senegal’s National Port Strategy.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour, and Public Service Reform delivered a statement on the national social climate and the progress made in addressing trade union demands.
The Minister of Youth and Sports delivered a statement on the governance and organization of the security services for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
UNDER LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY TEXTS
The Council examined and adopted:
the draft bill on factoring activities;
the draft bill on leasing.
Marie Rose Khady Fatou FAYE
Secretary of State to the Prime Minister,
in charge of Relations with Institutions,
Government Spokesperson