Africa-Press. The President of the Senegalese National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko, has taken a more flexible stance regarding the issue of debt restructuring, marking a notable shift from his previous opposition to this option, ahead of the resumption of talks between Senegal and a financial institution regarding a new funding program.
In an interview with French media, Sonko stated that his country does not adopt “rigid positions” concerning the handling of the debt crisis, emphasizing that the authorities are considering various available options based on current economic conditions and the requirements of the phase.
He added that “any decision must take into account the strategic interests of Senegal and its long-term development goals.”
This position represents a retreat from Sonko’s earlier statements in which he described debt restructuring as “unacceptable,” asserting that Senegal could meet its financial obligations without resorting to this option. However, he clarified that his previous objections were focused on what he termed “reckless restructuring,” rather than on exploring all possible alternatives to address the financial crisis.
This development comes as a delegation from the financial institution prepares to resume negotiations with the Senegalese government in the coming days regarding a new funding program, following the suspension of a previous program worth $1.8 billion after undisclosed debts were discovered during the tenure of the former president, Macky Sall.
Senegal has been facing a severe financial crisis since the revelation in 2024 of debts and financial obligations that were not included in the official state records in previous years. Estimates from the financial institution indicate that the country’s public debt reached approximately 132% of GDP by the end of 2024, prompting the government to enter negotiations with the institution to secure a new funding program and reorganize its financial situation.
