During a Council of Ministers meeting held this Wednesday, May 20, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye issued a series of decisive instructions to the government led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. Covering critical areas such as national dialogue, monitoring public performance, civil registration management, and access to water, the Head of State laid out a clear roadmap, underscoring the executive’s imperative to deliver tangible results for the nation.

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

“Starting tomorrow, I will be meeting with former Prime Ministers and past ministers, particularly those who previously 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 in a subsequent phase. Through this refined approach, Bassirou Diomaye Faye aims to strengthen consensus around Senegal’s national priorities and ensure broader participation in discussions concerning the country’s economic, social, security, and political landscape.

The President also placed significant emphasis on meticulously tracking governmental actions, a directive directly impacting Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and his cabinet. He declared, “The optimal execution of our National Transformation Agenda necessitates a systematic evaluation of public policies and close monitoring of the government’s operational progress.”

In line with this, he revealed a reform in the functioning of the Council of Ministers. “The Council of Ministers will convene every other week for a designated period, fostering a stronger culture of evaluating the impacts of the Government’s initiatives,” the Head of State affirmed. Bassirou Diomaye Faye thus issued a distinct mandate to the executive: cultivate 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, oversight, or control,” he insisted. The President extended this rigorous oversight to territorial and diplomatic administrations. He instructed the Minister of the Interior to assess the performance of administrative district chiefs and directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to monitor the effectiveness of diplomatic and consular mission heads.

Regarding local authorities, he tasked the relevant ministry with collaborating with stakeholders to develop “an effective mechanism for evaluating mayors and departmental council presidents.” On the fiscal and administrative front, the Head of State commended the completion of the third ministerial sphere in Diamniadio, hailing it as a crucial tool for streamlining public expenditures.

He further urged the acceleration of several pivotal strategic files. “It is essential 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 upcoming budgetary conferences,” he demanded.

The critical issue of civil registration was also highlighted during this Council of Ministers meeting. Addressing identified deficiencies within the current system, Bassirou Diomaye Faye set a precise timeline. He mandated the Minister for Territorial Collectivities to present “an Emergency Plan for Strengthening Civil Registration Management before the end of June 2026.”

The President underscored the necessity of profound reform. “It is paramount to accelerate the complete digitalization of civil registration, ensure the absolute reliability of documents, and guarantee the adequate and secure preservation of registers and archives,” he emphasized. In a related vein, national consultations are slated 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 numerous localities, notably Touba, Kaffrine, Louga, and Keur Massar, he called for immediate actions. “All urgent measures must be implemented to significantly improve population access to water,” he pressed 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 also instructing the Ministry of Sports and the Senegalese Football Federation to take “all appropriate supplementary measures” to ensure Senegal’s triumphant participation in the global tournament.