Senegal academics demand debate over IMF agreement

A group of 191 academics, professionals, and economic actors has signed a manifesto calling for parliamentary and citizen debate before the final ratification of an agreement reached on September 1, 2026, between Senegal and the IMF. The group argues that decisions impacting a country's fiscal policy for thirty-six months should not bypass national representation.

Critics of the manifesto point to the economic consequences of the period between 2023 and 2026, during which Senegal operated without an IMF program. This lack of institutional anchoring reportedly led to blind financing and reduced market credibility.

Furthermore, domestic administrative decisions in 2024 led to the suspension of major construction projects, resulting in a 25% drop in cement consumption and the loss of over 10,000 jobs. The impact was felt across the supply chain, including cement manufacturers and subcontractors. One company, CDE, reportedly saw its workforce decrease from 4,500 to 1,000 employees, while over 11 billion FCFA in tax revenue was lost during 2024-2025.