President Bassirou Diomaye Faye outlines key directives to prime minister Ousmane Sonko’s government

During the Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye issued a series of firm instructions to the government led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The Head of State outlined a clear roadmap, emphasizing the executive’s imperative to deliver tangible results across key areas including national dialogue, public performance monitoring, civil registration management, and access to water.

Commencing his address, President Faye revisited the National Dialogue Day scheduled for May 28. Acknowledging the prevailing religious context, he announced a shift from large public consultations to individual audiences with various influential figures across the nation.

“Starting tomorrow, I will be receiving former prime ministers and former ministers, particularly those who were responsible for finance and internal security,” the President stated. He further clarified that other national personalities and representatives of vital societal forces would be consulted in a subsequent phase. Through this approach, Bassirou Diomaye Faye aims to solidify consensus around national priorities and engage a broader spectrum of stakeholders in deliberations concerning Senegal’s economic, social, security, and political landscape.

The President also underscored the critical importance of monitoring governmental actions, a directive directly impacting Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and his cabinet. “The optimal implementation of the National Transformation Agenda necessitates a systematic evaluation of public policies and close oversight of governmental work,” he declared.

In line with this dynamic, he unveiled a reform in the functioning of the Council of Ministers. “The Council of Ministers will convene every other week for a specific period, to reinforce the culture of evaluating the impact of government actions,” affirmed the Head of State. Bassirou Diomaye Faye thus issued a clear mandate to the executive: to institutionalize a culture of accountability and performance.

“Every government member must proceed with the evaluation of directors-general and directors of entities under their responsibility, oversight, or control,” he insisted. The President extended this control logic to territorial and diplomatic administrations. He instructed the Minister of Interior to assess the heads of administrative districts and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to monitor the performance of heads of diplomatic and consular missions.

Regarding local authorities, he tasked the relevant ministry with collaborating with concerned actors to devise “an appropriate mechanism for evaluating mayors and presidents of departmental councils.” On budgetary and administrative fronts, the Head of State commended the completion of the third ministerial sphere in Diamniadio, hailing it as a tool for rationalizing public expenditures.

He also called for the acceleration of several strategic initiatives. “It is essential to initiate the final validation phase of the 2026-2028 multi-year budgetary and economic programming document, optimize the time dedicated to public procurement, and meticulously prepare budgetary conferences,” he urged.

The issue of civil registration was among the urgent matters raised during this Council of Ministers. Addressing identified shortcomings in the current system, Bassirou Diomaye Faye established a precise timeline. “An Emergency Plan for Strengthening Civil Registration Management must be presented before the end of June 2026,” he instructed the minister responsible for Territorial Collectivities.

The President emphasized the need for comprehensive reform. “It is paramount to accelerate the full digitalization of civil registration, ensure the reliability of documents, and guarantee adequate and secure preservation of registers and archives,” he highlighted. In the same vein, national consultations are to be organized before the end of August 2026 to enhance governance within the sector.

Access to potable water also captured the Head of State’s attention. Observing persistent challenges in several localities, notably Touba, Kaffrine, Louga, and Keur Massar, he demanded immediate actions. “All urgent measures must be taken to significantly improve populations’ access to water,” he stressed to the Minister of Hydraulics, in coordination with SONES, OFOR, and SEN’EAU.

With the 2026 World Cup just weeks away, Bassirou Diomaye Faye concluded by extending a message of support to the Lions of Senegal. “On behalf of the Nation, I convey a message of mobilization, encouragement, and support to the Lions,” he declared, while instructing the Ministry of Sports and the Senegalese Football Federation to take “all appropriate complementary measures” to ensure Senegal’s successful participation in the World Cup.