During a Council of Ministers meeting held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye issued a comprehensive series of directives to the Senegalese government, led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The Head of State outlined a clear roadmap encompassing national dialogue, the rigorous monitoring of public performance, efficient civil registry management, and ensuring widespread access to water, setting stringent expectations for results from the executive.

Commencing his address, President Faye revisited the National Dialogue Day scheduled for May 28. Acknowledging the prevailing religious context, he announced a pivot from broad public consultations to individual audiences with various prominent national figures.

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

The President also placed significant emphasis on closely 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 meticulous oversight of governmental work,” he declared.

In this vein, he unveiled a reform to the functioning of the Council of Ministers. “For a specific period, the Council of Ministers will convene every other week to cultivate a stronger culture of evaluating the impact of the Government’s initiatives,” the Head of State affirmed. Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s instruction to the executive is unequivocally clear: establish a profound culture of accountability and performance.

“Every member of the Government must undertake the evaluation of directors general and directors of entities under their responsibility, oversight, or control,” he mandated. The President extended this principle of scrutiny to territorial and diplomatic administrations, instructing the Minister of Interior to assess the performance of administrative district heads and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to monitor the achievements of heads of diplomatic and consular missions.

Regarding local authorities, he tasked the relevant ministry with collaborating with stakeholders to devise “an effective mechanism for evaluating mayors and presidents of departmental councils.” On the budgetary and administrative fronts, the Head of State lauded the completion of the third ministerial complex in Diamniadio, highlighting its role in rationalizing public expenditures.

He further urged the acceleration of several critical strategic projects. “It is imperative to finalize the validation phase of the multi-year budget and economic programming document for 2026-2028, optimize the timeline for public procurement, and thoroughly prepare for budget conferences,” he instructed.

The state of the civil registry emerged as one of the pressing concerns addressed during this Council of Ministers. Confronted with identified deficiencies in the current system, Bassirou Diomaye Faye set a precise deadline. “An Emergency Plan for Strengthening Civil Registry Management must be presented before the end of June 2026,” he commanded the Minister responsible for Territorial Collectivities.

The President underscored the necessity for a profound reform. “It is paramount to accelerate the complete digitalization of the civil registry, ensure the reliability of documents, and guarantee adequate and secure preservation of registers and archives,” he emphasized. In alignment with this objective, national consultations are slated to be organized before the end of August 2026 to enhance governance within the sector.

Access to potable water also garnered the Head of State’s attention. Observing persistent challenges in numerous localities, notably Touba, Kaffrine, Louga, and Keur Massar, he called for immediate interventions. “All urgent measures must be implemented to significantly improve the population’s 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 conveying a message of unwavering support to the Lions of Senegal. “On behalf of the Nation, I extend a message of mobilization, encouragement, and support to the Lions,” he declared, while simultaneously urging the Ministry of Sports and the Senegalese Football Federation to take “all appropriate supplementary measures” to ensure Senegal’s successful participation in the global tournament.