Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, has unveiled a comprehensive strategic roadmap aimed at fundamentally transforming the nation’s commercial infrastructure. Recognizing the dire state of many facilities, largely constructed since the 1970s, and responding to a concerning tally of 53 market fires recorded across the country between 2013 and 2024, the head of government is spearheading the Programme de Modernisation et de Gestion des Marchés (PROMOGEM) as a cornerstone of its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan. This ambitious initiative will see the refurbishment of 528 existing markets and the construction of 67 brand-new, contemporary complexes, backed by a substantial public allocation of 57.5 billion CFA francs over a four-year period.
agricultural drive, flood prevention, and digital sovereignty
Beyond market modernization, Prime Minister Sonko also addressed other critical national priorities. For the upcoming 2026-2027 agricultural campaign, he called for immediate corrective measures to overcome current shortcomings, including inadequate beneficiary targeting, a lack of seed independence, and significant storage limitations. While a complete overhaul of agricultural subsidies is pending, immediate efforts are focused on accelerating digitalization within the pilot zones of Tivaouane and Nioro.
Regarding the crucial issue of flood management, an urgent directive has been issued for the prompt validation of communal emergency plans. This will be followed by an inter-ministerial simulation exercise, mandated to take place before June 15, 2026. Finally, concerning the Sénégal Connect Park, a vital strategic project that stands 95% complete but is currently stalled by contractual disputes, the government has demanded an expedited new closing timeline be submitted to the African Development Bank (AfDB) without any further delay.
