Al Aminou Lo reveals major shortcomings of Ousmane Sonko’s PRES

Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo defended the 2026 supplementary finance bill, describing it as an adjustment to the initial budget prepared by Ousmane Sonko’s government rather than an entirely new budget. Energy subsidies, initially set at 250 billion CFA francs, are projected to reach about 790 billion—an increase of 540 billion—to absorb higher oil prices without passing the full cost on to consumers. Lo attributed the changes to lower-than-expected revenues, including those anticipated from the PRES, and to external financing that was not secured. He said credit cuts do not mean investment projects have been abandoned, citing hospitals, health facilities, sanitation projects, agropoles and fire stations set to continue or return in the 2027 budget.