Following the meeting with the CNGI, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, launched a countdown to the end of June 2026. A decision motivated by the weather forecasts of ANACIM and the need to avoid the difficulties encountered during previous rainy seasons.

This countdown has a specific objective: to make the flood control system fully operational before the actual arrival of the rainy season. The aim is to ensure that by the end of June, the canals are dredged and functional, the basins, streams, and retention areas are maintained, the pumping equipment is installed, and the critical areas are treated. The sanitation work must therefore be sufficiently advanced to absorb the first rains, preventing it from continuing into the height of the rainy season, a period when its effectiveness becomes limited.

This deadline is also linked to ANACIM's forecasts, which predict the gradual onset of the rainy season within the expected timeframe. The window for intervention during the dry season is therefore narrowing, necessitating an acceleration of work on the ground. It also reflects a recurring observation: the delays and inefficiencies seen in the past have often weakened the public response to flooding.

Recommendations focused on efficiency and coordination

In this context, the Minister recommends strengthening the production and dissemination of meteorological and hydrological information, under the coordination of the DPGI, the DGPRE, and ANACIM. He also requests a comprehensive identification of at-risk areas across the entire territory and the development of specific action plans. A lead agency must be designated for each site to avoid duplication of effort.

A national awareness campaign is planned for the second half of May 2026, with the involvement of local authorities and community stakeholders. On the ground, pre-winter operations (dredging, weed removal, maintenance) must begin immediately and be completed by the end of June 2026 at the latest. Major drainage projects, particularly in Touba and Tivaouane, are also included, with a deadline set for the end of July 2026. The National Sanitation Office (ONAS) has been instructed to propose an accelerated plan to meet these deadlines.

The protection of natural watercourses is reinforced by the strict application of the July 2025 decree prohibiting the occupation of non-building zones. Finally, the reorganization of the CNGIRI and the implementation of an integrated data-sharing system aim to improve the coherence of interventions, while the acceleration of compensation for affected populations should allow for the release of land.

By setting this countdown, the minister is imposing a results-oriented approach: everything must be ready before the arrival of the rains to avoid a repeat of past scenarios.