The recent technical agreement reached between Senegal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has ignited intense political discussions. Thierno Bocoum, who leads the Agir-Les Leaders movement, is calling on the administration to provide absolute clarity regarding debt management and the specific conditions attached to this new program.
The former lawmaker is urging the immediate publication of the memorandum of economic and financial policies. Alternatively, he proposes that the document be submitted directly to the National Assembly, allowing for a democratic debate on the commitments made on behalf of the Senegalese population.
However, Bocoum’s critiques extend beyond the current administration. He has also pointed fingers at Ousmane Sonko and Abdourahmane Sarr, identifying them as key players in the events that triggered the current financial complications surrounding the national debt and relations with the IMF.
With regard to Ousmane Sonko, Bocoum points out that his tenure as Prime Minister from April 2, 2024, to May 22, 2026, places him at the center of the negotiations with the IMF. He criticizes Sonko for his involvement in discussions leading up to the halting of the previous program. Furthermore, Bocoum highlights that Sonko’s September 2024 announcement regarding alleged discrepancies in debt statistics directly contributed to the suspension of the IMF initiative and the subsequent deterioration of Senegal’s financial health.
The Agir-Les Leaders president also raised concerns about the country securing funds on the regional market at interest rates that far exceed those of concessional financing.
Abdourahmane Sarr also faces scrutiny
Thierno Bocoum has similarly questioned the shifting positions of Abdourahmane Sarr, the former Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation. He highlights a notable contradiction in Sarr’s public statements regarding the sustainability of Senegal’s national debt.
According to Bocoum, the former minister previously championed the viability of the country’s debt and the credibility of its reduction strategy. Yet, more recently, the same official acknowledged that authorities had to seek restructuring measures to restore that very sustainability.
For Bocoum, the various political figures involved in managing this portfolio must accept their share of responsibility for the current economic hurdles.
These demands for accountability come at a critical juncture, just as Senegal secures a technical agreement with the IMF for a fresh economic and financial framework.
