Ousmane sonko mandates updated communal emergency plans for flood resilience

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko recently addressed critical issues surrounding flood prevention and management during the Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. He initiated the discussion by commending the preparatory efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Hydraulics and Sanitation, alongside other vital state services. These crucial activities include the comprehensive clearing of drainage networks, thorough inspection of existing drainage infrastructure, strategic pre-positioning of essential pumping equipment, and the systematic development of robust emergency response plans.

Highlighting the inherently inter-ministerial nature of effective flood prevention, Prime Minister Sonko called upon all government departments to foster seamless synergy. This collaborative approach will operate under the expert coordination of the Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, with significant support from the Ministry of Interior, particularly concerning civil protection and overarching crisis management strategies.

In a decisive move, he issued precise directives to the relevant ministers, urging them to implement appropriate measures without delay. The head of government specifically requested the immediate execution of several key actions. These include the urgent updating and validation of all communal emergency plans, a rigorous verification of the operational readiness of early warning systems and communication channels with local populations, the tactical pre-positioning of intervention resources, and the organization of a comprehensive inter-ministerial simulation exercise to be conducted before June 15, 2026.