The Head of State, His Excellency, Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar FAYE chaired, this Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, at the Palace of the Republic .

At the beginning of his statement, the President of the Republic reminded the Government of the imperative to take all appropriate measures and arrangements to ensure, throughout the national territory, the proper organization of examinations and competitive examinations, in particular the General Baccalaureate and the Brevet de Fin d'Etudes Moyennes (BFEM). He expressed his encouragement to all candidates and urged all stakeholders in the educational community (teachers, learners, parents, administrative and technical staff, etc.) to work tirelessly for the excellence, stability, and influence of the national education system. He announced that he will preside over the awards ceremony for the winners of the General Competition on July 31, 2025.

The Head of State returned to the fundamental place of higher education in the National Transformation Agenda. The development of higher education, research, and innovation remains the foundation for the development of national human capital and the sustainable systemic transformation of Senegal. Therefore, he reminded the Government of the urgency of taking adequate preventive measures, in liaison with all stakeholders, to ensure academic continuity and social stability in public universities and higher education institutions. To this end, he emphasized the importance of perfect mastery of:

- the university calendar with regard to compliance with the requirements of the LMD system;

- functional development of the university map with timely takeover and reception of university infrastructures in the regions;

- guidance for future high school graduates;

- resources and charges of universities, higher education establishments and University Social Works Centers;

- and recruitment quotas for teachers and administrative, technical and service staff in relation to the rectors.

The President of the Republic has informed the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and the Minister of Finance and Budget of the need to ensure the systematic strengthening of the financial governance of public universities and University Social Work Centers. Furthermore, he has asked the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation to initiate specific consultations with stakeholders in private higher education in order to build, over the long term, an integrated, efficient, more professional teaching and research model that is better able to carry out the National Transformation Agenda. The recommendations that will emerge from the work carried out within the framework of the National Agenda for the Transformation of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (ANTESRI) will be given particular attention.

The vision of a sovereign, just and prosperous Senegal places essential priority on the care and support of people with disabilities. The Head of State reminded the Government of the need for an inclusive evaluation of Social Orientation Law No. 2010-15 of July 6, 2010, relating to the promotion and protection of the rights of people with disabilities and the implementation of measures concerning the equal opportunities card. He also indicated the need for better involvement of people living with disabilities in national institutional, administrative, economic, social, cultural life, etc. In this regard, he invited the Government to give special treatment to the requests of people living with disabilities, with regard, on the one hand, to recruitment procedures in the public sector and, on the other hand, to training and financing managed by the various public structures.

Furthermore, the President of the Republic asked the Government, particularly the Ministers responsible for Urban Planning and Land Transport, to ensure that buildings and public transport are made more accessible to people with disabilities. Finally, with the aim of strengthening social inclusion and national solidarity, he invited the Minister of Family and Solidarity to organize, before the end of 2025, national consultations on strengthening the protection and well-being of people with disabilities.

The Head of State returned to the issue of managing the State's built heritage. The inventory, maintenance, and exemplary management of administrative buildings and public buildings remain pillars of transparent public governance. He asked the Prime Minister to propose, based on the complementary missions of the State Built Heritage Management and Operation Company (SOGEPA) and the Public Buildings and Edifices Construction Agency (ACBEP), a policy for the occupation, rehabilitation, and construction of public buildings and buildings. In addition, he asked the Prime Minister to conduct a comprehensive inventory of administrative buildings and land allocated to each ministry and to report on the state of office space needs, as well as unfinished building construction projects, and to streamline, to the strict minimum, the agreements signed to house public services.

As part of his diplomatic agenda, the President of the Republic informed the Council that he will participate in the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, from June 30 to July 2, 2025. He will also take part in the 50th anniversary of Cabo Verde's independence on Saturday, July 5, 2025.

UNDER THE HEADING OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM MINISTERS:

- the Minister of Urban Planning, Local Authorities and Territorial Development made a statement on the development of the areas of Mbour 4 and the New Town of Thiès.

UNDER LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY TEXTS,

The Council examined and adopted:

- the Bill authorizing the President of the Republic to ratify the Military and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Senegal and the Government of the Republic of Congo, signed on November 8, 2018, in Dakar.

The Minister of Vocational and Technical Training,

Government Spokesperson

Amadou Moustapha Njekk SARRE

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