Africa-Press – Gambia. <\/strong><\/span>Hundreds of workers, union members and opposition supporters marched in Senegal\u2019s capital Dakar on Wednesday to protest what they say are broken government promises and a worsening cost-of-living, as the country is plagued by a severe debt crisis.<\/b><\/p>\nThe protest was organised by the country\u2019s main labour unions and the Front for the Defence of Democracy and the Republic, also known as FDR, opposition coalition.<\/p>\n
Mody Guiro, secretary-general of the National Confederation of Senegalese Workers, the country\u2019s largest labour union, said the government had betrayed a deal last year that had frozen strikes in exchange for promises of better wages and working conditions.<\/p>\n
Authorities say a record debt crisis inherited from the previous administration has left the government with little money to spend.<\/p>\n
Protesters wearing red scarfs and union hats held signs demanding that the government rehires laid off public sector workers and lowers income taxes. Some chanted slogans calling for the ousting of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only problem we have with the country\u2019s economy is Ousmane Sonko. He\u2019s incompetent. He\u2019s not capable of running the country. He should just resign!\u201d said opposition supporter Thierno Sylla.<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s government, led by Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, came to power in April 2024, promising to carry out ambitious reforms, which included fighting corruption, creating jobs for young people and maximising the country\u2019s natural resource benefits.<\/p>\n
But the ruling Pastef party\u2019s reform agenda has run into obstacles. A 2025 government audit revealed a larger-than-reported debt of US$13 billion attributed to the previous administration. Talks with the International Monetary Fund over a new financial programme have stalled as the nation\u2019s fiscal outlook worsens. Senegal\u2019s debt-to-GDP ratio has surged to roughly 132%, one of the highest in Africa.<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s economic difficulties have deepened the daily struggles of many people, with young Senegalese among the hardest hit. About 75% of the country\u2019s population is under 35.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe economic situation in Senegal remains difficult,\u201d said Babacar Ndiaye, political analyst at Wathi Think Tank. \u201cThe opposition sees this demonstration as an opportunity to make its voice heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last February, protests at Senegal\u2019s top public university over unpaid financial aid were met with a violent response by security forces, leading to the death of a student.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe country is at a standstill. It is essential that the government finds solutions to revive Senegal\u2019s economy instead of picking fights everywhere,\u201d said Mohamed Fall, a youth activist at the protest on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Another protester, Pape Laobe Samb, is one of more than 700 employees of the port of Dakar that have been laid off since early 2025, as the Senegalese government moves to overhaul state institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not what they promised people. They said they were going to create jobs and develop the country but they did the complete opposite,\u201d Samb, who worked more than 12 years at the port before being let go, told The Associated Press.<\/p>\n
The port\u2019s director, who was appointed shortly after President Faye came to power, has described the action as a purge of irregular contracts inherited from the previous administration.<\/p>\n
Unions disagree, arguing the workers targeted were largely those associated with the previous government, and that the firings were unlawful.<\/p>\n
Source: The Standard Newspaper | Gambia<\/b><\/p>\n
For More News And Analysis About Gambia<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Sarah Miansoni Africa-Press – Gambia. Hundreds of workers, union members and opposition supporters marched in Senegal\u2019s capital Dakar on Wednesday to protest what they say are broken government promises and a worsening cost-of-living, as the country is plagued by a severe debt crisis. The protest was organised by the country\u2019s main labour unions and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":95831,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6],"tags":[260],"class_list":["post-95832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-files","tag-gambia"],"yoast_head":"\n
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