Transport and mobility for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: The steering committee meets with Minister Yankhoba Diémé for an update

In the process of preparing for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which our country will have the honor of hosting in October for the first time on the African continent, a meeting of the Dakar 2026 YOG steering committee dedicated to mobility was held this Thursday in Dakar, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Land and Air Transport, Yankhoba Diémé.

During this meeting, which was organized by CETUD as the structure that manages the Mobility and Transport Commission for the Youth Olympic Games, the steering committee presented, in turn, the transport plan for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. It also reviewed the progress of the activities of the various mobility commissions, before validating the roadmap for the next steps.

This first meeting of the Transport and Mobility Steering Committee for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games was a valuable opportunity for the Minister to highlight the progress made and the challenges that remain. Recognizing that the success of this global sporting event will largely depend on Senegal's ability to implement a reliable, safe, and seamless mobility system that meets international standards, Yankhoba Diémé believes that the significant progress achieved to date must be consolidated and accelerated to ensure the full success of the transport and mobility plan for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

According to him, several challenges remain and still require sustained vigilance, including: accelerating operational procedures; strengthening inter-institutional coordination; finalizing certain arrangements; and rigorously monitoring the various deadlines.

“We are now entering a decisive phase. The time for planning must gradually give way to that of accelerated execution, permanent coordination and rigorous monitoring of commitments,” he said, in the presence of Mr. Ibrahima Wade, general coordinator of COJOJ Dakar 2026 and Mr. Gora Sarr, Director General of CETUD.

In this regard, he invited all stakeholders to redouble their efforts, strengthen inter-institutional collaboration and maintain a high level of responsiveness so that the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are a complete success.

For the state authority, the collective responsibility is immense because, beyond the sporting event, it is about demonstrating Senegal's ability to organize a global event with excellence and to leave a lasting legacy in terms of mobility and transport governance.