To reclaim its sovereignty, Senegal must approach debt differently

Senegal's Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo delivered his first policy address to the National Assembly in September 2026. The country announced a new $2.2 billion loan program with the IMF after a previous deal was suspended due to the discovery of hidden debt amounting to about 25% of GDP, pushing public debt over 130% of GDP. This revelation caused public outrage and debate over debt management, fueling a push for economic independence, but currently the government is increasingly relying on international financial institutions to manage foreign debt.