Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko recently addressed the critical issue of flood prevention and management during a Council of Ministers meeting held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. He began by commending the proactive preparatory work undertaken by the Ministry of Hydraulics and Sanitation, alongside other state departments. Their efforts, particularly in clearing drainage networks, inspecting infrastructure, strategically pre-positioning pumps, and developing comprehensive emergency plans, were highlighted as crucial steps.
Emphasizing the inherently inter-ministerial nature of effective flood prevention in Sénégal, Ousmane Sonko called upon all government services to foster seamless collaboration. This coordinated approach is to be spearheaded by the Ministry of Hydraulics and Sanitation, with vital support from the Ministry of Interior, especially concerning civil protection and overarching crisis management strategies.
The head of government issued precise directives to the relevant ministers, urging them to implement appropriate measures without delay. Among the immediate actions requested by Prime Minister Sonko are the urgent updating and validation of all communal emergency plans, a thorough verification of the operational readiness of early warning systems, and ensuring robust communication channels with the public. Furthermore, he mandated the pre-positioning of essential intervention resources and the organization of an inter-ministerial simulation exercise, which must be completed before June 15, 2026.
Emphasizing the inherently inter-ministerial nature of effective flood prevention in Sénégal, Ousmane Sonko called upon all government services to foster seamless collaboration. This coordinated approach is to be spearheaded by the Ministry of Hydraulics and Sanitation, with vital support from the Ministry of Interior, especially concerning civil protection and overarching crisis management strategies.
The head of government issued precise directives to the relevant ministers, urging them to implement appropriate measures without delay. Among the immediate actions requested by Prime Minister Sonko are the urgent updating and validation of all communal emergency plans, a thorough verification of the operational readiness of early warning systems, and ensuring robust communication channels with the public. Furthermore, he mandated the pre-positioning of essential intervention resources and the organization of an inter-ministerial simulation exercise, which must be completed before June 15, 2026.
Ousmane sonko mandates updated communal emergency plans for flood resilience in Sénégal