The IMF Mission Chief,Ms. Mercedes Vera Martin has revealed that Senegal has expressed an interest in a new IMF-supported programme.
Speaking during a staff visit by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by herself she explained that this move forms part of the country’s plans to navigate an increasingly challenging economic environment.
“These include measures to support fiscal consolidation and address debt vulnerabilities, strengthen debt management, enhance public governance, and promote inclusive and sustainable growth,” she added.
The mission, which ran from June 15 to 19, 2026, assessed recent economic trends and engaged senior government officials on reforms spanning fiscal consolidation, debt management, and public financial governance.
A look at Senegal’s economy during the visit revealed that they recorded real GDP growth of 6.7 percent in 2025, supported by a strong expansion of the hydrocarbon sector with the current account deficit also narrowing down significantly during the year, driven by oil exports and import compression.
The overall fiscal deficit also narrowed sharply from 13.4 percent of GDP in 2024 to 6.4 percent of GDP in 2025, largely on the back of spending rationalisation. The IMF however, noted and warned that fiscal and debt vulnerabilities remain elevated.
Discussions during the visit also focused on assessing the impact of the Middle East conflict on Senegal’s economy, reviewing financing needs for the remainder of 2026, and designing reforms to enhance growth, reinforce social safety nets, and strengthen governance.
The IMF team held meetings with Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning Cheikh Diba, and several other senior government officials and BCEAO representatives during the visit.
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