The transition at the helm of the Primature in the aftermath of Ousmane Sonko’s exit has ushered in a wave of strategic realignments within Senegal’s administrative machinery. Effective from May 22, 2026, the reshuffle, driven by Decree No. 2025-1431, has redefined the scope of state services, prioritizing efficiency and streamlined governance.
Under the leadership of incoming Prime Minister Al Aminou Lô, the new administration has embraced a bold restructuring agenda. The revamped framework, outlined in the decree, reallocates critical state functions and oversight of public entities—including public companies and national institutions—between the Presidency, the Primature, and ministerial departments. This overhaul reflects a deliberate effort to enhance operational coherence and accountability across government branches.
From Sonko to Lô: Key Administrative Shifts
The seeds of this transformation were sown even before Sonko’s departure. A landmark decree, No. 2025-1929, issued on November 27, 2025, fortified the Prime Minister’s office by establishing several high-impact structures. These included the Reform Monitoring and Orientation Unit, the Inspectorate of Services, the Committee for Tracking Asset Recovery Initiatives—created under Decree No. 2025-1605 on October 2, 2025—and the Procurement Commission. Additionally, the General Secretariat of the Government was expanded with a dedicated Cabinet Preparation and Institutional Affairs Unit, alongside the creation of the National Commission for Access to Information.
With Al Aminou Lô at the helm, further adjustments have taken shape. The Prime Minister’s office has absorbed the Technical Secretariat of the National Local Content Monitoring Committee, previously under the Ministry of Petroleum and Mines. Concurrently, the General Secretariat of the Government has relinquished control of several units, including the Directorate-General for National Civic Service and Volunteering, now under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Government Information and Communication Bureau (BIC-Gouv), transferred to the Ministry of Communication and Institutional Relations. Meanwhile, the National Observatory of Detention Facilities has been placed under the Ministry of Justice.
Streamlining Communication and Governance
A notable change in the new governance model is the dissolution of the State Secretariat for Institutional Relations and Government Spokesperson within the Primature. This role has been elevated to a full ministerial position under the Ministry of Communication and Institutional Relations, which now serves as the official government spokesperson. This adjustment underscores a broader strategy to redistribute responsibilities and align the administrative structure with the executive’s evolving priorities.