Senegal’s flood response: Sonko orders urgent updates to local emergency plans

During Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko highlighted the critical need for enhanced flood prevention and management strategies. The session focused on the preparatory efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation alongside other government agencies, particularly regarding drainage system clearance, flood infrastructure inspections, strategic pump deployments, and emergency planning development.

The Prime Minister emphasized the interministerial nature of flood prevention, calling for seamless collaboration among all state services under the leadership of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation. The Interior Ministry was specifically tasked with overseeing civil protection and crisis management components of the strategy.

Sonko issued clear directives to concerned ministers, mandating immediate action on several fronts. Key priorities include updating and validating all municipal emergency plans, verifying the functionality of early warning systems and communication channels with communities, pre-positioning intervention resources, and conducting a cross-ministerial simulation exercise before June 15, 2026.