The Council of Ministers of the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS) held its 78th ordinary session in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on January 30 and 31, 2026, under the chairmanship of Mr. Boubacar Diané, Minister of Water and Energy of the Republic of Mali and current Chairman of the OMVS Council of Ministers. At the conclusion of this meeting, the Council invited Member States to expedite the finalization of their financial commitments and instructed the High Commission, in conjunction with SOGENAV, to explore additional financing mechanisms for subsequent phases.

During this two-day session, participants examined the High Commission's 2025 activity report and 2026 program and the budget for the 2026 financial year; the auditor's report for the 2024 financial year on the High Commission's management accounts; the SOGED's 2025 activity report and 2026 activity program; the SOGED's 2026 budget and the resolution of its board of directors relating to the 2026 budget; the SOGED's financial statements for the 2024 financial year (auditor's report and report of the board of directors to the General Assembly); the SOGEM's 2025 activity report and 2026 activity program; the SOGEM's 2026 budget and the resolution of its board of directors relating to the 2026 budget; SOGEM's financial statements for the 2024 financial year (auditor's report and board of directors' report to the general meeting); SOGENAV's 2025 activity report and 2026 activity program; SOGENAV's 2026 budget and resolution of its board of directors relating to the 2026 budget; SOGENAV's financial statements for the 2024 financial year (auditor's report and board of directors' report to the general meeting); SOGEOH's 2025 activity report and 2026 activity program; SOGEOH's 2026 budget and resolution of its board of directors relating to the 2026 budget; SOGEOH's financial statements for the 2024 financial year (auditor's report and board of directors' report to the general meeting).

In examining its agenda, the Council of Ministers took note of the satisfactory progress of the implementation of the organization's programs, through the activity reports of the various structures, namely the High Commission, the Diama Dam Management and Operation Company (SOGED), the Manantali Energy Management Company (SOGEM), the Navigation Management and Operation Company (SOGENAV) and the Upper Basin Works Energy Management Company (SOGEOH).

He also approved the activity programs of the various structures and gave appropriate directives for their implementation, approved the budgets of the High Commission, SOGED, SOGEM, SOGENAV and SOGEOH for the 2025 financial year.

At the end of this review of the implementation of activities and those planned for 2026, the Council of Ministers adopted the experts' report after fruitful discussions.

In addition, the Council of Ministers adopted: the resolutions relating to the adoption of the 2026 budgets of the High Commission, SOGED, SOGEM, SOGENAV and SOGEOH; the resolutions relating to the discharges given to the High Commission of the OMVS and to the Directors of the Companies; the resolutions approving the financial statements of the companies; and finally, the resolution affecting the result of the 2024 financial year of SOGEM.

At the end of its work, the Council of Ministers adopted several structuring decisions marking a new stage in the implementation of the organization's strategic priorities.

Regarding navigation on the Senegal River, a founding pillar of the OMVS, the council authorized the commencement of the first phase of the project and mandated SOGENAV to launch the works. It also requested that a high-level ceremony be held in April 2026 to lay the foundation stone for the navigation works on the Senegal River.

The Council also welcomed the establishment of the first baseline assessment of water quality in the Senegal River basin. It instructed the High Commission, in coordination with the States and management companies, to accelerate the implementation of the regional monitoring system, particularly through the DREVE project and the Gourbassi multi-purpose dam, and to systematically integrate the "water quality" dimension into the basin's major infrastructure projects.

The Council also welcomed the mobilization of funding for micro-hydropower plants in the Republic of Guinea (Poukou, Bolokoum, and Bimbaw) and commended the Republic of Guinea's commitment through the signing of the financing agreement. It instructed SOGEOH, in conjunction with the High Commission and Member States, to take all necessary steps for the effective commencement of the project.

Finally, in order to strengthen the governance and performance of the OMVS system, the Council of Ministers authorized the launch of the technical, financial and social audit of the companies, and gave the High Commission a mandate to finalize the corresponding contractualization.

This 78th ordinary session also saw the presence of Mr. Mandjou Dioubaté, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to Senegal and Mauritania; Mr. Alassane Diallo, Minister of Industry and Trade of Mali; Mr. Mohamed Ould Khaled, Minister of Energy and Petroleum of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania; and Mr. Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal.