COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025 COUNCIL OF MINISTERS - 2025 MAY 21 On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye presided over the weekly Council of Ministers meeting at the Palace of the Republic. In his opening remarks, the President issued a strong call to all political actors and the nation’s stakeholders for inclusive participation and the success of the national dialogue on the political system, which he will inaugurate on May 28, 2025. He instructed the Minister of the Interior, in collaboration with his office and the General Facilitator, to ensure the invitation of representatives from all stakeholders (political parties, civil society, trade unions, employers’ organizations, religious and customary authorities, youth and women’s organizations, etc.) and to oversee the smooth organization of the proceedings. The Head of State emphasized the crucial role the Senegalese diaspora must play in implementing the National Transformation Agenda. He extended warm congratulations to Senegalese abroad for their significant contributions to the country’s political, economic, social, and cultural influence. He urged the Government to prioritize addressing the administrative concerns of the diaspora (issuance of national identity cards, passports, consular and social documents, pension payments, and support for their social rights) as well as their suggestions and proposals. He invited the Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Senegalese Abroad to take all necessary measures to provide accessible services to compatriots living abroad through sustained mobilization of diplomatic and consular missions. Furthermore, the President requested the Government to further promote the skills, expertise, and multisectoral know-how of the Senegalese diaspora and to support their projects and investments in alignment with the priorities of the National Transformation Agenda. This aligns with the enhanced promotion of the Tabax Senegal digital platform (www.tabaxsenegal.sn), which should be better publicized among Senegalese abroad. In this regard, he directed the Prime Minister to restructure, for greater efficiency, the mechanisms for guiding, supporting, and financing the projects and economic activities of Senegalese abroad, particularly the Fund for Supporting Senegalese Abroad (FAISE). Given the paramount importance he attaches to compatriots living abroad, the President instructed the Government to make appropriate arrangements for the organization, in December 2025 in Dakar, of the first edition of the National Diaspora Day. This major national event will provide an opportunity to highlight and capitalize on all diaspora initiatives to strengthen a sovereign, just, prosperous Senegal anchored in the core values of solidarity, inclusion, and national unity. The Head of State stressed the importance of preparing for the upcoming budget orientation debate scheduled at the National Assembly before the end of June 2025. This event before the national representation must allow the Government to present the new economic, budgetary, and financial strategy of the State, while accelerating the implementation of reforms and programs aimed at the sustained transformation of the country across all sectors. He instructed the Prime Minister, in collaboration with the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation and the Minister of Finance and Budget, to ensure thorough preparation for the budget orientation debate, particularly the concerted finalization of the multi-year budgetary and economic programming document, marking a fundamental step in consolidating transparency in public finance management. Additionally, he highlighted to the Prime Minister the need to oversee activities related to the “Invest in Senegal” forum scheduled for October 7-8, 2025, in alignment with the country’s strategy for international cooperation and the promotion of win-win partnerships. The President addressed the strategic repositioning of the cashew sector in the national economy, particularly in the Casamance region, where cashew marketing constitutes a major economic activity. He urged the Government, particularly the Minister of Trade, to take all necessary administrative, logistical, and security measures to ensure the smooth conduct of this campaign. He also reminded the Government of the need to strengthen private initiatives for local cashew processing to reposition this sector within the national industrialization strategy. On his diplomatic agenda, the Head of State informed the Council that he will visit, on Thursday, May 22, 2025, alongside his counterpart from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) platform. In his remarks, the Prime Minister highlighted the national significance of the Tabaski holiday as a major religious event. To this end, an interministerial council was dedicated to its preparation, resulting in directives to ensure optimal conditions for the national market’s supply of sheep. Previously, through a circular letter addressed to relevant Government members, the Prime Minister had taken measures to ease the control of trucks and vehicles transporting sheep, exempt them from duties and taxes, allow three shepherds per truck to monitor the animals, and strengthen public safety and health security at all sales points and along the sheep trade circuit. The Prime Minister, pleased with the proper implementation of his directives, urged the Ministers of the Armed Forces, Public Security, Finance, and Local Authorities to ensure consistent and nationwide compliance with government prescriptions. He noted that, as of May 18, 2025, the sheep market had 406,592 heads, against a national target of 830,000, representing a 48.99% achievement rate three weeks before the holiday. The situation is also satisfactory regarding the functional setup of sales points, with a target of 278 official points set by regional governors. He highlighted favorable trends in the onion and potato markets. Ultimately, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministers to ensure the effective implementation of all measures until the set deadline. On the issue of national solidarity, the Prime Minister closely monitors the deployment of public assistance instruments for vulnerable groups to enable them to celebrate Tabaski with dignity. The Prime Minister reported on his friendly and working visit to Burkina Faso at the invitation of his Burkinabe counterpart, Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo. During this visit, he was received by President Ibrahim Traore, to whom he conveyed a message of fraternity from his Senegalese counterpart, President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye. He also participated in the inauguration ceremony of the mausoleum of President Thomas Sankara, an iconic figure of pan-Africanism. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Burkinabe people for their warm welcome. MINISTERIAL COMMUNICATIONS: The Minister of Urban Planning, Local Authorities, and Territorial Development presented a mid-term review of consultations on the deployment of territorial hubs. LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY TEXTS: The Council reviewed and adopted: The draft decree establishing and setting the organizational and operational rules of the National Institute of Oil and Gas (INPG); The draft decree establishing and setting the organizational and operational rules of the National Air Transport Council (CNTA). INDIVIDUAL MEASURES: The President of the Republic made the following decisions: Ministry of Finance and Budget: Mr. Abdou Karim Sock, Planner, registration number 616 020/M, is appointed Director of Budget Control, replacing Mr. Bakar Faye, who is retiring; Mr. El Hadji Amadou Coulibaly, Senior Civil Administrator, registration number 603 929/G, is appointed Director of Equipment and Administrative Transit, replacing Mr. Amadou Tidiane Fall, who is assigned to other duties; Ms. Stéphanie Ange Pélagie Diouf, Civil Administrator, registration number 661 349/G, is appointed Director of Pensions, replacing Mr. Abou Aw, who is assigned to other duties; Mr. Abou Aw, Planning Advisor, registration number 516 574/H, is appointed Director of Payroll, replacing Ms. Stéphanie Ange Pélagie Diouf, who is assigned to other duties. Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture: Mr. Hugues Diaz, Cultural Affairs Advisor, registration number 515165/I, is appointed Director of Arts, replacing Ms. Khoudia Diagne; Mr. Ibrahima Barry, holder of a Master’s in Development, specializing in Cultural Industries Management, registration number 662022/B, is appointed Secretary General of the Doudou Ndiaye Coumba Rose Grand Theater, replacing Ms. Fatou Gueye Sidibé Diallo; Ms. Oumy Diakhaté, Literature Professor, registration number 610 904/H, is appointed Director General of the Daniel Sorano National Theater Company, replacing Mr. Ousmane Barro Dione. Minister of Vocational and Technical Training, Government Spokesperson: Amadou Moustapha Njekk Sarre