Sénégal prepares strategic transport plan for Dakar 2026 youth olympics

Senegal has taken a decisive step toward ensuring seamless transport and mobility for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, a landmark event set to unfold on African soil for the very first time. The country’s Minister of Land and Air Transport, Yankhoba Diémé, led the inaugural meeting of the Transport and Mobility Steering Committee (COPIL), signaling the official launch of a comprehensive operational blueprint designed to meet the logistical demands of this historic gathering.

With nearly 2,700 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees, alongside officials, volunteers, and spectators, the event presents a monumental challenge in coordination and infrastructure. To address this, Senegal has established a three-pronged organizational framework centered around Dakar, Diamniadio, and the Saly-Mbour corridor. The structure includes:

• COPIL, led by Minister Diémé, overseeing high-level strategic decisions;
• the Mobility Technical Committee, spearheaded by the Executive Council for Urban Transport (CETUD), focusing on transit solutions; and
• the AIBD Operations Committee, tasked with managing passenger flows at Blaise Diagne International Airport.

The government has underscored mobility as a cornerstone of the Games’ success, particularly in ensuring operational efficiency and safety. A key focus lies on rail transport expansion, which will serve as the backbone for rapid connections between Dakar, Diamniadio, the AIBD, and Thiès. Authorities are now accelerating implementation, with full-scale simulations underway to validate the transport and security infrastructure.

The overarching ambition is to transform the Dakar 2026 JOJ into a showcase of Senegal’s logistical prowess while embedding lasting improvements in the nation’s transport governance—a legacy that extends far beyond the closing ceremony.