Unveiled on 1 August, Senegal’s Economic and Social Recovery Plan (PRES) seeks to mobilise more than 5,000 billion CFA francs within just 30 months, with at least 90% of funding drawn from domestic resources.
The government says the plan’s primary aim is to restore budgetary balance without resorting to external borrowing.
Anchored in fiscal, institutional and administrative reforms, PRES is presented as a bold bid to enable Senegal to finance its own priorities without constant reliance on foreign donors. While some observers praise its vision, others question its feasibility and social coherence.
Supporters hail a break from dependence
At a press conference hosted by the National Movement of Patriotic Executives (MONCAP), senior PASTEF officials argued the plan represents far more than an economic blueprint. They describe it as a fundamental shift aimed at ending a model of prolonged dependency and restoring budgetary sovereignty.
Amadou Ba Bobo, vice-coordinator of MONCAP, accused sections of the media of distorting the government’s intentions. “The government has presented an ambitious, realistic and sovereign roadmap to put Senegal back on track. In the face of the distortions and bad faith observed, the MNCP is taking its responsibility to enlighten citizens,” he declared.
Supporters point to measures such as revising the Investment Code, reforming the General Tax Code, abolishing or merging certain state agencies, and reallocating public funds more strategically. For them, these reforms are not only sensible but essential to correcting long-standing economic imbalances.
Critics warn of contradictions
Opponents say their concern lies not with the plan’s stated goals but with elements they see as contradictory. Chief among these is the decision to maintain a 10 billion CFA franc budget for discretionary spending – widely referred to as a “slush fund”.
The Senegal Bi Ñu Bokk movement argues this undermines the plan’s credibility, especially given urgent needs in health, education and food security. The APR party has announced a press conference to detail what it calls the plan’s structural flaws, demanding greater transparency, spending discipline and alignment between political rhetoric and concrete action.
As debate grows sharper, PRES has become a focal point for deeper political and economic questions. For some, it symbolises the chance to break free from dependency; for others, it risks repeating old mistakes. Yet both sides agree on one truth: the future of Senegal’s economic sovereignty is firmly on the table.
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