the IMF representative in Dakar welcomes the “control of public finances”

The initial finance law for 2025 marks a turning point in Senegal’s budgetary management, with a notable reduction in the deficit estimated at 4.5 points of GDP compared to the amending finance law of 2024. Questioned by The SunMajdi Debbich, resident representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Dakar, welcomed this budgetary orientation, describing it as “an effort to be welcomed”.

According to Mr. Debbich, this approach reflects “an important commitment to better control of public finances, an essential objective for the economic stability of the country”.

However, he qualifies this optimism by emphasizing that discussions with IMF staff “on specific assumptions and reforms, particularly in terms of revenue mobilization, have remained very limited at this stage “. For him, an in-depth assessment is necessary in order to “measure the feasibility of this ambitious objective of mobilizing internal resources”.

Furthermore, the IMF representative highlighted a key element of the budgetary debate: energy subsidies. “We note the absence of reform of energy subsidies, the level of which remains unchanged compared to the achievements of 2024. However, these subsidies are very costly and it is generally more effective to directly support the most vulnerable households with targeted aid »he concluded.

Majdi Debbich, recently appointed to this position, brings nearly 15 years of experience within the IMF to Senegal. Before joining Dakar, he held the position of Senior Economist in the Department of Strategy, Policy and Evaluation in Washington, where he contributed to the development of the Fund’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. and the global food crisis.