The finalization of the technical agreement between Senegal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reignited political discussions in the country. Thierno Bocoum, leader of the Agir-Les Leaders movement, is urging the government to prioritize transparency regarding debt management and the conditions attached to the new financial program.
Bocoum is specifically requesting the release of the economic and financial policy memorandum. In its absence, he advocates for the document to be submitted to the National Assembly, ensuring a public debate on the commitments made in the name of all Senegalese citizens.
His critique extends beyond the current administration. Bocoum also challenges the roles played by Ousmane Sonko and Abdourahmane Sarr, whom he identifies as key figures in the decisions that led to the country’s current debt and IMF-related challenges.
Sonko’s tenure under scrutiny
Bocoum highlights Ousmane Sonko’s time as Prime Minister—from April 2, 2024, to May 22, 2026—as central to the negotiations with the IMF. He accuses Sonko of being directly involved in the discussions that preceded the suspension of Senegal’s previous IMF program.
The Agir-Les Leaders leader also points to September 2024, when discrepancies in debt data were reported. He argues that this revelation not only triggered the suspension of the IMF program but also worsened Senegal’s financial standing.
Additionally, Bocoum raises concerns about the government’s reliance on regional market financing at rates he describes as far higher than those offered through concessional loans.
Sarr’s shifting stance on debt sustainability
Abdourahmane Sarr, former Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, is another figure facing scrutiny from Bocoum. The latter highlights Sarr’s evolving public statements on Senegal’s debt sustainability.
Bocoum recalls that Sarr previously defended the viability of the country’s debt and the credibility of its reduction strategy. However, more recently, Sarr acknowledged that authorities were seeking measures to restore debt sustainability—a shift Bocoum views as indicative of deeper mismanagement.
In his statement, Bocoum emphasizes that all officials involved in this dossier must acknowledge their roles in the financial difficulties now confronting Senegal.
His remarks come at a critical juncture, as Senegal has just reached a pivotal milestone in its IMF negotiations, finalizing a technical agreement for a new economic and financial program.
