During a Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye issued a series of clear instructions to the government led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The head of state outlined a strategic roadmap, emphasizing accountability and results across key areas including national dialogue, public performance monitoring, civil registry administration, and access to water.

Opening his address, President Faye revisited the National Dialogue Day originally set for May 28. Acknowledging the prevailing religious context, he decided to replace large-scale public consultations with individual audiences involving various national figures.

“Starting tomorrow, I will receive former prime ministers and ex-ministers, particularly those who previously oversaw finance and internal security portfolios,” the President stated. He further clarified that other prominent national personalities and representatives from various sectors of society would be consulted in a subsequent phase. Through this revised approach, Bassirou Diomaye Faye aims to solidify consensus around national priorities and engage a broader spectrum of stakeholders in discussions 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 execution of the National Transformation Agenda necessitates a systematic evaluation of public policies and close oversight of governmental operations,” he declared.

In line with this dynamic, he announced a reform to the functioning of the Council of Ministers. “The Council of Ministers will convene every other week for a specific period to strengthen the culture of assessing the impact of government initiatives,” the head of state affirmed. Bassirou Diomaye Faye thus issued a clear mandate to the executive: to foster a robust culture of accountability and performance.

“Every member of the Government must undertake the evaluation of directors-general and directors of entities under their responsibility, tutelage, or control,” he demanded. The President extended this rigorous oversight to territorial and diplomatic administrations. He instructed the Minister of Interior to assess the performance of administrative district chiefs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to monitor the effectiveness of heads of diplomatic and consular missions.

Regarding local territorial collectivities, he tasked the relevant ministry with collaborating with stakeholders to devise “an appropriate mechanism for evaluating mayors and departmental council presidents.” On budgetary and administrative fronts, the head of state commended the completion of the third ministerial sphere in Diamniadio, hailing it as a vital tool for rationalizing public expenditures.

He also urged the acceleration of several strategic dossiers. “It is imperative to finalize the validation phase of the 2026-2028 Multi-Year Budgetary and Economic Programming Document, optimize the timeline for public procurement, and meticulously prepare for budgetary conferences,” he instructed.

The issue of civil registry management emerged as a pressing concern during this Council of Ministers. Addressing identified shortcomings within the current system, Bassirou Diomaye Faye established a precise timeline. “An Emergency Plan for Strengthening Civil Registry Management must be presented before the end of June 2026,” he mandated the minister responsible for Territorial Collectivities.

The President emphasized the need for comprehensive reform. “It is paramount to accelerate the full digitalization of the civil registry, ensure the reliability of documents, and guarantee adequate and secure preservation of registers and archives,” he highlighted. Furthermore, national consultations are to be organized before the end of August 2026 to enhance governance in this 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 called for immediate interventions. “All urgent measures must be implemented to significantly improve population 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 conveying a message of support to Senegal’s national football team, the Lions. “On behalf of the Nation, I extend 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 take “all appropriate complementary measures” to ensure Senegal’s successful participation in the World Cup.