Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: Security forces training at the Geille Barracks in Ouakam

Security preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) have taken another step forward at the Geille Barracks in Ouakam, where a training and capacity-building seminar was held for the various forces involved in the operation.

A seminar to harmonize procedures

For two days, representatives from the security forces, defense forces, emergency services, civil defense, cybersecurity, as well as officials from the Operations Coordination Center (CCO) and operational command post (PCO) officers, met around the same table. Their stated objective: to establish a common operational language, harmonize procedures, clarify responsibilities, and strengthen inter-agency coordination before the next phases of training.

The work focused on several key areas: command architecture, the organization of the Joint Operations Center (JOC), the role of operational and tactical command posts, staff tools, alert systems, crisis management, operational liaison, and medical evacuation and rescue procedures. Specifically, participants worked on tools such as situation reports, incident reports, escalation procedures, order frameworks, liaison diagrams, and coordination mechanisms between the different forces.

The words of Colonel Issa Diack

When questioned about this meeting, Colonel Issa Diack emphasized the importance of this step: "This seminar is an important step in preparing for the security of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. It allows us to harmonize procedures, clarify the command structure, and strengthen coordination between all the components involved."

He specified that preliminary work had already focused on identifying needs, preparing staff tools, establishing alert systems, crisis management, and conducting operations. "The next steps will involve training units, followed by simulation exercises designed to test our system in near-real-life conditions. Our objective is simple: to be ready, coordinated, and effective, in order to guarantee safe, well-managed Games that live up to Senegal's image," he added.

A schedule of exercises has already been set.

Following this seminar, the forces involved will continue their preparation in their respective fields. Tactical units will be trained in site security, traffic management, maintaining order, responding to incidents, providing assistance to victims, protecting infrastructure, and ensuring continuity of communications.