In an interview with the newspaper Le Soleil, Dr. Djim Ousmane Dramé, Director General of the Directorate of Religious Affairs and the Integration of Arabic Language Graduates (DIRA), outlined President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's great ambitions for the religious sector in Senegal.

A full-time research fellow at the Fundamental Institute of Black Africa (IFAN), Dr. Dramé is responsible for implementing the Head of State's vision of actively supporting all religious denominations—Islam, Christianity, and traditional religions. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to formalizing its relationship with religious leaders and involving them more fully in major national development projects.

This vision is deployed through four major axes, according to the Arabist:

1. Institutional reforms and modernization

Towards a General Delegation for Religious Affairs

The DIRA will soon be transformed into the General Delegation for Religious Affairs (DGAR), granting it greater administrative and financial autonomy. The draft decree, already adopted by the Council of Ministers, will soon be submitted to the National Assembly.

Modernization of religious cities

A national commission, chaired by the Minister of the Interior and bringing together several departments (Finance, Urban Planning, Religious Affairs), has been created to oversee the modernization of religious cities of all faiths. Projects will be processed based on criteria of fairness, transparency, and objectivity.

A dedicated budget line from 2026

From 2026, a specific budget line will be dedicated to religious affairs, in accordance with the guidelines of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

2. Integration of graduates in Arabic language

A national census platform

A digital platform will soon list Arabic-speaking graduates, their specialties and their skills, in order to effectively guide integration policies.

Job creation and project financing

The state aims to transform these graduates into independent economic actors. To this end, the DER/FJ has pledged to mobilize 500 million CFA francs to finance their projects and support Quranic teachers, notably by removing barriers related to age and interest (riba).

Integration into the Civil Service

The national daily's interlocutor advocates for better representation of Arabic speakers in major public schools, particularly at FASTEF and ENA (Diplomacy section).

Language reinforcement

Partnerships with the French Institute for Foreign Students (IFE) and the French Embassy will enable Arabic-speaking graduates to improve their mastery of French, in order to remove linguistic obstacles to their professional integration.

Support for governors

He also proposes that each governor be assisted by a religious graduate, trained to represent the state in religious ceremonies and facilitate dialogue with communities.

3. Support for daaras and reform of traditional education

Integration into the public education system

The State intends to gradually integrate daaras (Koranic schools) into the formal education system, in order to ensure their institutional recognition and better supervision.

National Daara Conference

The Ministry of National Education will soon organize national meetings to draw up a complete diagnosis and adopt structural measures on the management and development of daaras.

National Daara Day

November 28, 2025 will now be celebrated as National Daara Day, dedicated to promoting their social and educational role.

Fight against begging

Dr. Dramé points out that begging has no religious origins, but often results from the lack of resources of Quranic teachers. He advocates an inclusive and collaborative approach with daara federations to find sustainable solutions without stigmatizing the actors.

4. Social cohesion and religious discourse

A national seminar will be held on October 22, 23 and 24, 2025 on the theme:

“Religious discourse in Senegal and its impact on social cohesion.”

The objective is to prevent excesses in preaching, to promote responsible and unifying discourse, and to involve imams, priests, Koranic masters and preachers in this dynamic of regulation in the service of social peace.