Senegal’s Debt Revelation: IMF Demands Clarity Amidst Economic Reforms
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Senegal is currently under intense scrutiny from the international Monetary fund (IMF) following the revelation of a previously undisclosed debt amounting to seven billion dollars. This debt reportedly accumulated between 2019 and 2024 during Macky Sall’s presidency. The IMF is now pressing the Senegalese government for a comprehensive explanation and consolidation of these figures.
Abebe Aemro Selassie, the IMF’s Africa Department Director, addressed the issue during a recent press briefing in Dakar, alongside Edward Gemayel and Majdi Debbich, key IMF representatives in Senegal. While refraining from either confirming or denying the exact figure, Selassie emphasized the need for official clarification. We are awaiting clarification from the Senegalese government on this amount. these are the government’s accounts. To confirm them,
he stated, indicating that the IMF is relying on the government to provide accurate data.
IMF Insists on “Misreporting” Resolution Before New Program negotiations
The IMF has made it clear that negotiations for any new financial programs with Senegal are contingent upon a definitive resolution of the “misreporting” issue. This term refers to the inaccurate or incomplete reporting of financial data. The IMF’s stance underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in financial dealings, especially when international institutions are involved.
Selassie’s visit to Dakar, which followed an IMF mission from March 18-26, 2025, was aimed at furthering discussions on Senegal’s economic situation and the government’s efforts to address the false statements. The IMF is actively engaging with the new governance to ensure that corrective measures are being implemented.
Following a meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on April 7, 2025, Abebe Aemro selassie highlighted the shared priorities between the IMF and the Senegalese authorities. These priorities include restoring budget transparency, strengthening accountability, and placing public finances on a sustainable trajectory.
This alignment suggests a collaborative approach to addressing Senegal’s economic challenges.
The IMF’s commitment to supporting Senegal’s efforts is evident in its planned engagement with Senegalese authorities during the upcoming IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington. These discussions will focus on notable economic reforms which could restore fiscal and economic stability for the benefit of the Senegalese people.
Political Dynamics: IMF Focuses on Government Engagement
Amidst the economic discussions, there have been questions regarding the IMF’s engagement with political parties in Senegal. Notably, the IMF clarified that it had no scheduled meeting with the Alliance for the Republic (APR), the party of former President Macky Sall, despite claims from an APR official. The IMF interaction service stated, We never scheduled an appointment with them. We have [simply] acknowledged receipt of their letter. Temporarily, we are focusing on the planning of the arrival of the Senegalese authorities at the spring assemblies in Washington.
This stance indicates that the IMF is primarily focused on working with the current government to address the economic challenges and ensure fiscal responsibility. Tho, the IMF has not ruled out future engagement with other political stakeholders, stating, Nothing is ruled out at the moment.