The Council of Ministers met on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at the Presidential Palace, under the chairmanship of the Head of State, His Excellency Mr. Macky SALL.
At the beginning of his communication, the President of the Republic expressed his gratitude to the populations, administrative authorities, religious and traditional leaders, youth, and women for their exceptional mobilization and warm welcome during his economic tour from November 13 to 18, 2023, in the regions of Kédougou, Kaolack, Kaffrine, and Fatick.
Furthermore, the President commended the Prime Minister and the entire Government for the remarkable work accomplished in the inaugurations and launch of infrastructure projects, as well as the preparation of the territorial presidential councils. These councils resulted in the adoption of a consensual, comprehensive, and feasible Priority Investment Plan for each region for the period 2024-2026, in line with the PAP 3 of the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE).
The President reiterated the selected investments covering the three axes of the PSE, which are programmed as follows:
• 600 billion for Kédougou, focusing on optimizing the mining potential for sustainable development and youth employment in the localities;
• 1000 billion for Kaolack, aiming to develop a dynamic regional economy centered around the Port;
• 700 billion for Kaffrine, including the construction of a modern administrative sphere, strengthening the agricultural and livestock sectors, as well as improving access to water and electricity;
• 853 billion for Fatick, where economic takeoff will be enhanced by the establishment of a Special Economic Zone in collaboration with the private sector, harnessing the opportunities of the Foundioungne-Ndakhonga Port and the valorization of salt mines.
The Head of State emphasized the need to work towards the emergence of the Sine Saloum Territory-Pole in order to accelerate the optimization of sectoral policies necessary for the development of the targeted regions and the improvement of the well-being of the local populations.
In this regard, the President instructed the Prime Minister to take all necessary measures within the ministries to address the legitimate and urgent demands raised by the populations during the economic tour. Furthermore, he urged the immediate implementation of the presidential decisions announced and shared with the administrative authorities, elected officials, and stakeholders of the regions.
The President also emphasized the imperative to redirect budgetary allocations towards inclusion, particularly in terms of human capital and social protection, by promoting professional training, youth financing, entrepreneurship, and their integration. He instructed the Prime Minister to initiate the preparation process for a Presidential Council on Youth.
Furthermore, the President highlighted the urgency of allocating additional and immediately mobilizable budgetary resources to social and territorial equity programs in order to accelerate the completion of priority projects such as road infrastructure, hydraulic works, health and electricity facilities, and women’s empowerment equipment.
Lastly, the President informed the Prime Minister and ministers about the importance of preparing future economic tours in the regions of Diourbel, Saint-Louis, Matam, Louga, Kolda, and Ziguinchor.
Moving on to his communication, the President reiterated that Senegal is a true democracy, an exemplary rule of law, committed to good governance and respect for public freedoms and human rights.
Therefore, the President instructed the Prime Minister to assess, in collaboration with the Ministries and relevant stakeholders, the full implementation of the government’s policies on good governance and promotion of human rights and present a memorandum on the matter, covering the period since 2012.
Regarding the intensification of the fleet renewal program for transportation, the President announced to the Council the imminent receipt of 90 new state-of-the-art buses out of the expected 370. These buses will strengthen the Dakar Dem Dik fleet as part of the modernization plan for the national public transport company.
In this regard, the President highlighted the urgency to accelerate the integrated program for the renewal of urban and interurban transport fleets (buses, minibusses, and taxis), as well as heavy transport vehicles, in collaboration with private operators and financial institutions.
With regards to the social climate, domestic affairs management, and monitoring, the President addressed the issue of caring for people with disabilities. He asked the Prime Minister to evaluate, in collaboration with the Ministries and relevant actors, the full implementation of the social orientation law and take all necessary measures for the successful organization of the celebrations marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities throughout the country on December 3, 2023.
In his communication, the Prime Minister provided updates on the coordination of government activities, including the President’s economic tour, a meeting with the Intersyndicale of local government workers, and a meeting regarding price monitoring and support for purchasing power.
Under the ministers’ communication:
- The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad provided information on the international situation and the President’s participation in the Africa-Saudi Arabia Summit and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Summit in Riyadh.
- The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Equipment, and Food Sovereignty reported on the progress of the 2023-2024 agricultural campaign, the preparation for the marketing and off-season campaigns, and the monitoring of horticultural exports.
- The Minister of Air Transport and Airport Infrastructure Development presented information on airport equipment, technological modernization of airports, and the digital transformation of air transport services.
As for legislative and regulatory texts, the Council examined and adopted:
- The draft law amending Law No. 2012-30 of December 28, 2012, establishing the National Office for the Fight against Fraud and Corruption (OFNAC).
- The draft law amending Law No. 2014-17 of April 2, 2014, relating to the declaration of assets.
Regarding individual appointments, the President made the following decisions:
- Mr. Moustapha SOW, Senior Foreign Affairs Counselor, previously Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Senegal in Canada, is appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to His Excellency Mr. Kaïs SAÏED, President of the Republic of Tunisia, replacing Ms. Ramatoulaye Ba FAYE, who is assigned to other duties.
- Mr. Ousmane SY, Inspector General of Police, is appointed as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to His Excellency Mr. Mamady DOUMBOUYA, President of the Transition, Head of State of the Republic of Guinea, replacing Inspector General of Police Anna Sémou FAYE.
- Mr. Diamane DIOME, Senior Foreign Affairs Counselor, previously Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Senegal to the United Nations in New York, is appointed Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations in New York, filling a vacant position.
- Mr. Mansour Elimane KANE, Financial Engineer, Ambassador of Senegal to the United States of America, is appointed concurrently as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Her Excellency Ms. Xiomara CASTRO, President of the Republic of Honduras, with residence in Washington.
- Mr. Doudou SOW, Senior Foreign Affairs Counselor, Ambassador of Senegal to Rwanda, is appointed concurrently as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to His Excellency Mr. Wavel RAMKALAWAN, President of the Republic of Seychelles, with residence in Kigali.
- Ms. Aminata Fall CISSE, Magistrate, Ambassador of Senegal to Brazil, is appointed concurrently as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to His Excellence Mr. Santiago PENA, President of the Republic of Paraguay, with residence in Brasilia.
- Ms. Aminata Fall CISSE, Magistrate, Ambassador of Senegal to Brazil, is appointed concurrently as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to His Excellence Mr. Gabriel Boric, President of the Republic of Chile, with residence in Brasilia.
- Ms. Aminata Fall CISSE, Magistrate, Ambassador of Senegal to Brazil, is appointed concurrently as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Her Excellency Ms. Dina BOLUARTE, President of the Republic of Peru, with residence in Brasilia.
- Ms. Aminata Fall CISSE, Magistrate, Ambassador of Senegal to Brazil, is appointed concurrently as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, with residence in Brasilia.
- Ms. Fatou BEYE, Food Industry Technological Engineer and former Chief of the Microbiology Section at the National Laboratory of Analysis and Control (LANAC), is appointed Director-General of the National Laboratory of Analysis and Control (LANAC), filling a vacant position.
- Ms. Aminata DIAO, holder of a Master’s degree in Business Administration, is appointed National Coordinator of the Islamic Microfinance Development Program in Senegal (PROMISE).
- Ms. Diéguy DIOP, Jurist and former Director of the Promotion of Rights and the Protection of Children, is appointed Director of the Promotion of Social and Solidarity Economy.
- Mr. Cheikh FALL, holder of a degree in Civil Engineering, is appointed Inspector of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Urbanism, Housing, and Public Hygiene.
- Mr. Abdoulaye FAM, Planner, is appointed Technical Inspector at the Ministry of Urbanism, Housing, and Public Hygiene.
- Colonel Papa Ibrahima DIOP of the National Gendarmerie is appointed Director of the Fight against Obstructions at the Ministry of Urbanism, Housing, and Public Hygiene, replacing Lieutenant Colonel Abdourakhmane PAM, who is assigned to other duties.
Made in Dakar, on November 22nd, 2023 The Minister of Trade, Consumption and Small and Medium Enterprises, Government Spokesperson Abdou Karim FOFANA
