During a high-stakes Council of Ministers meeting in Dakar, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko unveiled a sweeping reform agenda aimed at revitalizing Senegal’s economic backbone. With a 57.5 billion FCFA investment plan, his administration is doubling down on market upgrades, agricultural modernization, and accelerated public service digitalization—all under a banner of tighter governance and unified execution.

Rebuilding markets: a lifeline for traders and commerce

Sonko opened with a sobering assessment of Senegal’s market infrastructure, highlighting decades-old facilities plagued by crumbling structures and grave safety risks. A stark reminder: between 2013 and 2024, 53 markets were ravaged by fires, exposing deep structural flaws in the sector.

The government’s response is the Modernization and Market Management Program (PROMOGEM), a five-year blueprint to overhaul 528 existing markets and add 67 new state-of-the-art facilities nationwide. To empower the initiative, Sonko announced plans to grant PROMOGEM greater administrative and financial independence, backed by a 57.5 billion FCFA budget carved out of the national public investment plan.

The Prime Minister called on sector ministries to collaborate with local governments and private enterprises to build a seamless network of modern, efficiently managed markets across all regions.

Preparing for a high-stakes agricultural season

Seeds, fertilizers, and transparency take center stage

Turning to agriculture, Sonko commended progress in certified seed and fertilizer production, particularly through the Senegalese Agricultural Research Institute (ISRA) and agricultural advisory services (ICS). Yet critical gaps remain: incomplete seed self-sufficiency, weak targeting of input subsidies, limited access to farm credit, and inadequate storage capacity.

To tackle these hurdles, he urged faster rollout of digital solutions already piloted in Tivaouane and Nioro, stressing transparent pricing of inputs and equitable distribution across the country. Agri-tech adoption, he argued, could bridge inefficiencies and boost farmer productivity.

Flood preparedness: a pre-hivernage sprint

With the rainy season approaching, Sonko ordered urgent cross-ministerial action to mitigate flood risks. Key tasks include clearing drainage channels, inspecting flood-control structures, and pre-positioning emergency response teams. He also mandated updates to municipal emergency plans, strengthened early warning systems, and a full-scale inter-ministerial simulation drill before mid-June 2026.

Senegal Connect Park: clearing the path to digital sovereignty

The Premier Minister spotlighted the Senegal Connect Park, a flagship project poised to anchor the nation’s digital sovereignty and tech-driven growth. Despite hitting a 95% physical completion rate, financial and contractual snags have stalled its finalization.

Sonko directed relevant agencies to submit a realistic new completion timeline to the African Development Bank (AfDB) without delay, while accelerating talks with the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and finalizing concession agreements.