Senegal's Ousmane Sonko says no split as he weighs debt restructuring amid political rift

Ousmane Sonko, the president of Senegal's National Assembly and former prime minister, told RFI and France 24 that there is no "tear" in the country despite a political split with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. He affirmed that Senegal is larger than their disagreements and pledged to focus on the legislature's role. Sonko said the government has not discussed debt restructuring with him before his departure from the premiership and rejected a premature "wild" restructuring, insisting Senegal continues to meet its obligations. He warned the Assembly could oppose any decision he deems contrary to national interest.

Former minister and ex‑government spokesperson Seydou Guèye, speaking on RFM, called debt restructuring "indispensable and fundamental" as the IMF prepares a new mission in Dakar. He warned that without restructuring Senegal cannot "keep its head above water" and outlined options such as debt re‑profiling, re‑scheduling, and partial forgiveness. The IMF team faces a debt service of about 5.5 trillion FCFA and a projected growth of 2.2 %, heightening the urgency of the debate. The contrasting positions of Sonko and Guèye highlight a broader contest over Senegal's economic policy and the future of its relationship with the IMF.