During a Council of Ministers meeting held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye delivered a series of resolute instructions to the government led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The Head of State outlined a comprehensive roadmap, placing the executive branch under strict directives for achieving tangible results across several critical areas: national dialogue, public performance monitoring, civil registration management, and ensuring access to water.

Commencing his remarks, President Faye addressed the National Dialogue Day, originally slated for May 28. In light of the prevailing religious context, he announced a modification to the format, opting for individual consultations with various prominent national figures instead of large public gatherings.

“Starting tomorrow, I will be receiving former Prime Ministers and former ministers, particularly those who previously held portfolios in finance and internal security,” the President stated. He further clarified that other national personalities and representatives from key societal sectors would be consulted in a subsequent phase. Through this revised approach, Bassirou Diomaye Faye aims to solidify consensus around Senegal’s national priorities and to involve a broader spectrum of stakeholders in deliberations concerning the nation’s economic, social, security, and political landscape.

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

In line with this emphasis, he unveiled a reform to the functioning of the Council of Ministers. “The Council of Ministers will convene every other week for a period, to strengthen the culture of evaluating the impacts of government action,” the Head of State declared. Bassirou Diomaye Faye thus issued a clear mandate to the executive: to institutionalize a culture of accountability and performance.

“Each member of the Government must proceed with the evaluation of the Director Generals and directors of entities under their responsibility, oversight, or control,” he insisted. Extending this rigorous oversight, the President directed the Minister of Interior to assess the performance of administrative district heads and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to monitor the effectiveness of diplomatic and consular mission chiefs.

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

He further urged the acceleration of several strategic dossiers. “It is imperative to initiate the final validation phase of the 2026-2028 multi-year budgetary and economic programming document, optimize the time dedicated to public procurement processes, and thoroughly prepare budgetary conferences,” he demanded.

The critical issue of civil registration emerged as a key priority during this Council of Ministers. Confronted with identified deficiencies in the current system, Bassirou Diomaye Faye established a precise timeline. He instructed the minister responsible for Local Authorities to present “an Emergency Plan for Strengthening Civil Registration Management before the end of June 2026.”

The President stressed the need for profound reform. “It is paramount to accelerate the comprehensive digitalization of civil registration, ensure the reliability of documents, and guarantee adequate and secure preservation of registers and archives,” he emphasized. In a related initiative, national consultations are mandated before the end of August 2026 to enhance governance within this vital sector.

Access to potable water also garnered the Head of State’s attention. Acknowledging persistent challenges in several localities, notably Touba, Kaffrine, Louga, and Keur Massar, he called for immediate interventions. “All urgent measures must be taken to significantly improve populations’ access to water,” he firmly directed 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 unwavering 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 also instructing the Ministry of Sports and the Senegalese Football Federation to implement “all suitable complementary provisions” to ensure Senegal’s successful participation in the global tournament.