The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, welcomed this Sunday the collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following the disclosure of the provisional results of the public finance audit covering the period 2012-2024.
« I salute the collaborative spirit of the IMF, following the disclosure of the provisional results of the audit of Senegal’s public finances, after 2012-2024 management », Declared the Senegalese head of state on X.
Friday, October 4, Julie Kozack, spokesperson for the IMF, expressed the institution’s support for the public finance audit carried out by the Senegalese government. She welcomed the authorities’ commitment to strengthening governance and budgetary transparency.
« The authorities shared the results of the audit with our team. We will work closely with them in the coming weeks to assess the macroeconomic impact and define the next steps. “, she said.
This statement comes in a context marked by controversy concerning the figures presented by the government. The September 26 report, published by the Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, Abdourahmane Sarr, revealed a budget deficit much higher than expected, reaching 10.4% of GDP compared to the initial 5.5%. announced. Likewise, public debt stands at 76.3% of GDP, instead of the previously reported 65.9%.
These revelations provoked reactions from opposition figures and journalists close to the former regime, who questioned these figures put forward by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and his government. Some of them were summoned by the cybercrime squad and taken into custody for spreading false news. But the prosecution declined to drop these charges.
Minister Sarr also underlined that the central government’s debt at the end of 2023 amounted to 15,664 billion FCFA, or 83.7% of GDP, an amount significantly higher than initial forecasts.
The government is committed to reducing public debt below 70% of GDP and reducing the budget deficit to 3%, in accordance with commitments made within the framework of the West African Monetary Union (UMOA). Drastic measures, such as reviewing projects financed by external loans and reducing energy subsidies, are being planned to clean up fipublic finances. President Faye reaffirmed son « commitment to making Senegal a secure and reliable partner on the international scene.»
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