Speaking in Passi on Thursday, 01 January 2026, during the closing of a 72-hour cultural and sporting event, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko disclosed that the country’s public debt position is significantly more severe than previously communicated by the former Administration.
According to Sonko, an audit commissioned after the new government took office revealed that public debt stood at 119% of GDP, far above the 74% of GDP figure declared by the outgoing regime. He warned that the debt burden now exceeds the total wealth produced by the economy, describing the situation as deeply concerning.
The Prime Minister said the audit was a deliberate transparency exercise to clearly outline the fiscal reality inherited by the current authorities and to pre-empt accusations of mismanagement. He stressed that openness was essential to maintain public trust and policy credibility.
Beyond fiscal concerns, Sonko highlighted entrenched resistance to reform within state institutions, including the administration and judiciary. He characterised dismantling this system as an ongoing and arduous process, reaffirming the government’s resolve to pursue far-reaching governance reforms.