Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye chaired a Council of Ministers meeting on October 28, 2026, at the Palace of the Republic. The meeting addressed the final preparations for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar, scheduled to start on October 31. The President emphasized the importance of ensuring the smooth running of the sporting and cultural events. He also called on the government, state services, and the Organizing Committee to work together to make the event a success.
The President welcomed the delegations and participants expected to attend the YOG, inviting the population to give them a warm welcome during the two-week competition. He reiterated his call for national unity and collective mobilization around the event, which puts Senegal and Africa at the center of international sporting attention. The President also recalled the holding of the Dakar Summit on the theme "Sport for Development" on October 31. He wished success to the Senegalese delegation, "Team Senegal," to which he handed the national flag on October 26.
The Prime Minister presented an update on the preparations for the Games, highlighting the coordination between ministries and the Organizing Committee, as well as the mechanisms for reporting and resolving difficulties that may arise during the competition. The ministers were instructed to closely monitor these operations and establish a watch system throughout the duration of the Games. The government must also finalize the strategy for the legacy of the YOG, beyond the sporting infrastructure, with particular attention to the training and integration of the 6,000 young volunteers mobilized for the event.
The President also focused on the continuity of public action and the revival of the economy. He asked the Prime Minister to take the necessary legal and regulatory measures to implement the policies, programs, and public projects included in the draft rectified finance law for 2026 and the finance law for 2027. The President requested a comprehensive evaluation of the Economic and Social Recovery Plan (PRES) and an assessment of the deployment of priority projects under the National Transformation Agenda Senegal 2050.
The President called for the rapid settlement of the internal debt, in consultation with representative organizations of the private sector, and the continuation of mechanisms for financing agricultural and horticultural marketing campaigns. He also emphasized the need to accelerate the rationalization of the public and parapublic sectors. On the social front, the President invited the nation's living forces to accompany the economic revival in a calm climate, based on trust and a sense of responsibility.
The development of Senegal's national craft industry was also discussed. The President welcomed the work of artisans and the commitment of the Chamber of Crafts, reaffirming his desire to make this sector a lever for job creation, vocational training, and entrepreneurship. The government must take measures to strengthen the place of craft in the National Transformation Agenda Senegal 2050, including the general census of artisans and their registration to facilitate their professionalization and access to financing.
The President also focused on modernizing civil security, following the inauguration of the 15th Company of firefighters in the Diamniadio urban pole on October 24. He asked for the acceleration of the plan to strengthen prevention and rescue means. A ministerial council dedicated to the development of crafts will be organized before the end of 2026, under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
Key points
- The Senegalese government is focusing on the success of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye emphasizing the importance of national unity and collective mobilization around the event.
- The government is also working to revive the economy, with a focus on implementing policies and programs included in the draft finance laws for 2026 and 2027.
- The development of Senegal's national craft industry and the modernization of civil security are also key priorities for the government.
