Dakar hosts key UEMOA reform review amid performance concerns
The 11th annual review of UEMOA community reforms concluded in Dakar on Tuesday, following a one-day postponement. The political phase brought together Senegalese authorities and the UEMOA Commission President Abdoulaye Diop to assess progress and identify corrective measures.
The session, which followed technical evaluations conducted in November 2025, revealed that Senegal achieved a provisional implementation rate of 76.45% across 145 reforms—a decline of 2.14 points compared to last year’s 78.59% for 132 reforms. While the overall performance remains satisfactory, the drop signals the need for swift corrective action to meet community standards.
Key areas of concern identified
- Governance and convergence: A 6.3-point decline in structural reforms, compounded by delays in submitting the 2024 report from the single window for financial statements.
- Business climate: Sectors like culture, tourism, crafts, quality standards, and the business environment require urgent attention.
Speaking after the review, Senegal’s Minister of Finance and Budget, Cheikh Diba, confirmed that findings will be presented to the Prime Minister to accelerate compliance before the next evaluation cycle.
Notable progress in select sectors
Despite the overall dip, certain areas showed marked improvement:
- Agriculture, livestock, fishing, and the environment saw a 12-point increase.
- Human and social development advanced by 6.5 points.
- Energy sector performance rose by 3 points, while modernizing legal, accounting, and statistical frameworks gained 5.5 points.
UEMOA Commission President Abdoulaye Diop emphasized that this annual review, mandated by the 2013 Additional Act of the Heads of State Conference, evaluates collective progress toward UEMOA treaty objectives. Since 2014, ten reviews have been conducted in Senegal, with generally positive outcomes. The current session marks the eleventh edition and the second under the biennial political review framework established in 2023.
Senegal’s authorities have pledged to prioritize the implementation of recommendations, signaling a renewed commitment to aligning with regional norms. A high-level meeting with the Prime Minister is planned to formalize corrective strategies and ensure timely adjustments before the next review cycle.
