Health: And Gueusseum declares a new 48-hour strike on November 19 and 20, 2026

Despite the truce observed during the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the Alliance of Autonomous Health Unions (And Gueusseum) remains determined. The protest initially planned for November 12 and 13 has been postponed to November 19 and 20, 2026. The underlying issues are the government's failure to honor its commitments and demands related to the sector's outstanding social issues.

In a statement released this Sunday, November 1st, the And Gueusseum management team denounced the government's failure to honor its commitments and the lack of satisfactory responses to workers' concerns. According to the union representatives, this situation justifies continuing and intensifying the struggle.

Beyond professional demands, the alliance is also challenging the state's budgetary choices. The union deplores the small share allocated to healthcare in the national budget, arguing that the initial and supplementary finance laws do not sufficiently take into account the sector's social liabilities.

The union points in particular to the progressive reduction of resources allocated to the Ministry of Health, which would represent only 3% of a national budget of 7,000 billion CFA francs in 2026. A level considered largely insufficient in view of the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), which advocates 9%, and the Abuja commitment of 2001, setting at least 15% the share of national budgets devoted to health.

For And Gueusseum, this budget shortfall further weakens healthcare facilities, which are already facing operational and investment difficulties. The alliance believes that while the construction of new infrastructure is necessary, it should not be prioritized at the expense of existing facilities, which are already experiencing serious challenges.

A truce for the Youth Olympic Games, but no giving up.

Despite this determination, And Gueusseum affirms that it has chosen national responsibility. As a sign of patriotism and commitment to the success of the Youth Olympic Games being held in Senegal, the alliance has decided not to call any strike action during this period.

As a direct consequence of this decision, the demonstration initially scheduled for November 12th and 13th has been postponed to November 19th and 20th. The union members present this truce as a freely agreed-upon gesture, without, however, calling into question their determination to achieve their demands.

The organization also intends to maintain pressure through several other actions. These include continuing to withhold health and social data, holding general assemblies to mobilize and raise awareness among workers, and boycotting coordination and oversight meetings. The boycott will also extend to the off-site activities of the National Tuberculosis Control Program.

A new assessment is scheduled for November 21st.

The 19th action plan finally includes an evaluation day on Saturday, November 21, 2026. This meeting should allow union leaders to measure the level of mobilization and determine the next steps in the struggle.

Strengthened by the results of the evaluation of its 18th action plan and by the mobilization observed during the circumstantial conjunction with SAMES and SACSAS on October 29 and 30, And Gueusseum calls on its activists and sympathizers to maintain discipline, solidarity and determination.

The message to the authorities is unequivocal: the alliance intends to continue the fight until the government's commitments are fully and effectively implemented and the demands of health and social work workers are met.