On Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, Senegal’s Minister of Armed Forces Yankhoba Diémé inspected the Centre de coordination des opérations at the Kër Ayo youth Olympic village in Ouakam to review security for the Youth Olympic Games.
Inspecting Operations at Ouakam Village
The inspection covered the chain of command and control systems for the first Olympic gathering ever hosted in Africa. Diémé evaluated both material and human resources deployed for the games.
The security apparatus relies on an integrated model combining the Armed Forces, the National Gendarmerie, the National Police, firefighters, and judicial authorities. This national framework builds on a deployment of nearly 15,000 members of the Forces de défense et de sécurité that began on Oct. 23, 2026.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, the head of the Centre de coordination des opérations, Colonel Davy Koguila Mané, accompanied by his two deputies, Colonel Tafsir Dame Ndiaye and Principal Commissioner Balla Fall, carried out a series of visits to the operational structures engaged in the security apparatus, according to a police source.
Did You Know? The Centre de coordination des opérations is located inside the Kër Ayo youth Olympic village in Ouakam, serving as both a national command center and a global intelligence hub for the Games.
Integrating Global Intelligence
To counter transnational threats, the Comité national de coordination de la sécurité integrated international partners directly into supervisory rooms. Specialists from INTERPOL and liaison officers from allied nations maintain a permanent presence at the center. This structure provides continuous security monitoring, instant access to global police databases, and real-time intelligence sharing.
National Police Director General Mame Seydou Ndour also visited the coordination center on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, to assess the security arrangements. Seneweb said that the police chief highlighted the involvement of liaison officers from Spain, the United States, and France, alongside representatives from INTERPOL and the FBI.
National Police Director General Mame Seydou Ndour saluted the synergy between the different forces, describing the dynamic as unprecedented and built upon 35 years of experience, while calling for it to be sustained.
National Police Director General Mame Seydou Ndour suggested the implementation of concrete actions focused on the memorial and operational legacy of the event, proposing the publication of a dedicated magazine to immortalize the strategic initiative.
Securing Borders and Air Traffic
As competitions enter their decisive phase, authorities are focusing heavily on cross-border movements and logistics. Diémé urged troops to maintain maximum vigilance until the end of the games, paying particular attention to the departure and return flows of foreign delegations through the Blaise-Diagne International Airport in Diass.
Security forces have also reinforced protection around competition sites, delegation hotels, and strategic axes. La Vie Sénégalaise reported that the National Police deployed anti-drone surveillance and aerial neutralisation systems to enforce strict airspace restrictions.
“Dans le cadre des JOJ Dakar 2026, la surveillance combinée, entre les technologies de pointe de neutralisation aérienne et la présence active des forces de l’ordre au sol, permet d’appliquer strictement les restrictions d’espace aérien et de garantir une sécurité maximale autour des sites de compétition, des hôtels hébergeant les délégations et des axes stratégiques,” the National Police wrote in a publication.
“La complémentarité des composantes et la rigueur de la planification restent nos meilleurs garants de l’efficacité sur le terrain,” Diémé said, according to Xalima.
Questions about the Centre de coordination des opérations and security
What is the Centre de coordination des opérations?
The Centre de coordination des opérations is the primary command and intelligence hub for the games. It is located at the Kër Ayo youth Olympic village in Ouakam.
How many security personnel were deployed?
Nearly 15,000 members of the Forces de défense et de sécurité have been deployed since Oct. 23, 2026.
Which international bodies are involved in security?
INTERPOL and the FBI participate in the supervision rooms alongside liaison officers from countries including France, Spain, and the United States.
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